DEF 14A 1 d683076ddef14a.htm DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT Definitive Proxy Statement
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SCHEDULE 14A

(Rule 14a-101)

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

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x Definitive Proxy Statement

 

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¨ Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12

J. C. Penney Company, Inc.

 

 

(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

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LOGO

March 21, 2014

Dear Stockholders:

On behalf of your Board of Directors, I invite you to attend JCPenney’s 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The meeting will be held on Friday, May 16, 2014, at 10:00 A.M., local time, at JCPenney’s Home Office, located at 6501 Legacy Drive, Plano, Texas 75024. We will be asking you to vote on and to support several important proposals for our Company and it is important that your shares be represented. We urge you to vote your shares via the toll-free telephone number, over the Internet, or by mail, as provided in the enclosed materials.

I wanted to take this opportunity to highlight some of the proposals to be voted upon at the Annual Meeting. We are asking stockholders to approve the 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan, which will ensure that shares of JCPenney common stock are available to hire and retain the necessary talent to drive our turnaround. We are also asking stockholders to approve amendments to the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation and to approve our Amended Rights Agreement, both of which are designed to protect the Company’s ability to use its net operating loss carryforwards in the future. The Proxy Statement includes key information about these proposals and we hope that you will support the Board’s recommendation to vote for each of these critical items.

We appreciate your support of JCPenney.

 

LOGO

Thomas J. Engibous

Chairman of the Board

JCPenney

6501 Legacy Drive

Plano, TX 75024

jcp.com


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J. C. PENNEY COMPANY, INC.

6501 Legacy Drive

Plano, Texas 75024-3698

J. C. PENNEY COMPANY, INC.

Notice of 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

 

Date and Time:

  

Friday, May 16, 2014

10:00 A.M., local time

Place:

  

JCPenney Home Office

6501 Legacy Drive

Plano, Texas 75024-3698

Business:

  

1.      To elect ten directors nominated by the Board of Directors for a one-year term as described in the accompanying proxy materials;

  

2.      To ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as independent auditor for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2015;

  

3.      To approve the adoption of the J. C. Penney Company, Inc. 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan;

  

4.      To approve amendments to the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, to restrict certain transfers of our common stock in order to protect the tax benefits of our net operating loss carryforwards;

  

5.      To approve the adoption of the Amended Rights Agreement in order to protect the tax benefits of our net operating loss carryforwards;

  

6.      To hold an advisory vote on executive compensation; and

  

7.      To consider any other business properly brought before the meeting.

Record Date:

   In order to vote, you must have been a stockholder at the close of business on March 17, 2014.

Voting By Proxy:

   It is important that your shares be represented and voted at the meeting. If you received the proxy materials by mail, you can vote your shares by completing, signing, dating, and returning your completed proxy card, by telephone or over the Internet. If you received the proxy materials over the Internet, a proxy card was not sent to you, and you may vote your shares only by telephone or over the Internet. To vote by telephone or Internet, follow the instructions included in the proxy statement or on the Internet. You can revoke a proxy at any time prior to its exercise at the meeting by following the instructions in the proxy statement.

 

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the 2014 Annual Meeting of

Stockholders to be held on May 16, 2014.

The Notice of Annual Meeting, Proxy Statement and Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal

year ended February 1, 2014 are available at www.proxyvote.com.

 

LOGO

Janet Dhillon, Secretary

Plano, Texas

March 21, 2014

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT

PLEASE SIGN, DATE, & RETURN YOUR PROXY CARD OR

VOTE BY TELEPHONE OR INTERNET


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PROXY STATEMENT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

About the Annual Meeting

     1   

Corporate Governance

     5   

Governing Documents

     5   

Corporate Governance Guidelines

     5   

Board Leadership Structure

     6   

Board of Directors’ Role in Risk Oversight

     6   

Policies and Procedures with Respect to Related Person Transactions

     6   

Board Independence

     7   

Meeting Attendance

     8   

Executive Sessions

     8   

Communications with the Board of Directors

     8   

Communications with the Audit Committee

     8   

Board Diversity, Director Qualifications and Process for Nominations

     9   

Board Committees

     11   

Audit Committee

     11   

Corporate Governance Committee

     11   

Finance and Planning Committee

     11   

Human Resources and Compensation Committee

     12   

Committee of the Whole

     12   

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

     13   

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

     13   

Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock

     14   

Proposal 1 – Election of Directors

     18   

Nominees for Director

     18   

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

     22   

Report of the Human Resources and Compensation Committee

     37   

Summary Compensation Table

     38   

Grants of Plan-Based Awards for Fiscal 2013

     40   

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End 2013

     41   

Option Exercises and Stock Vested for Fiscal 2013

     43   

Pension Benefits

     44   

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation for Fiscal 2013

     46   

Potential Payments and Benefits on Termination of Employment

     48   

Termination without a Change in Control

     48   

Change in Control; Termination following a Change in Control

     50   

Director Compensation for Fiscal 2013

     53   

Audit Function

     56   

Report of the Audit Committee

     56   

Audit and Other Fees

     57   

Audit Committee’s Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

     57   

Proposal 2 – Ratification of Appointment of Independent Auditor

     58   

Proposal 3 – Approval of 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan

     59   

Proposal 4 – Approval of Amendments to Restated Certification of Incorporation, as amended

     68   

Proposal 5 – Approval of Amended Rights Agreement

     72   

Proposal 6 – Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation

     78   

Other Business Matters

     79   

Stockholder Proxy Proposal Deadline

     79   

Stockholder Business – Annual Meeting

     79   

Timing

     79   

Annex A

     A-1   

Annex B

     B-1   

Annex C

     C-1   


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2014 PROXY STATEMENT

This proxy statement and the accompanying materials are being made available to JCPenney stockholders beginning on or about March 21, 2014. In this proxy statement, you will find information on the matters to be presented at the Annual Meeting and information to assist you in voting your shares.

ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING

Who is soliciting my vote?

JCPenney’s Board of Directors is soliciting your vote at the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

What will I be voting on?

You will be voting on:

 

    Election of ten directors nominated by the Board of Directors;
    Ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as JCPenney’s independent auditor for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2015;
    Approval of the 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan;
    Approval of amendments to the Company’s Restated Certification of Incorporation, as amended, to restrict certain transfers of our common stock in order to protect the tax benefits of our net operating loss carryforwards;
    Approval of the Amended Rights Agreement in order to protect the tax benefits of our net operating loss carryforwards;
    Advisory vote on executive compensation; and
    Any other business that may properly come before the meeting.

What are the Board of Directors’ voting recommendations?

The Board of Directors recommends that you vote your shares “For” each of the Board’s nominees for director, “For” the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as independent auditor for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2015, “For” the approval of the 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan, “For” the approval of the Amended Rights Agreement, “For” the approval of amendments to the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, and “For” the approval of our executive compensation in connection with the advisory vote on executive compensation.

Who is entitled to vote?

All stockholders who owned JCPenney common stock at the close of business on the record date, March 17, 2014, are entitled to attend and vote at the Annual Meeting.

How many votes do I have?

You will have one vote for every share of JCPenney common stock you owned on the record date.

How many votes can be cast by all stockholders?

Each share of JCPenney common stock is entitled to one vote. There is no cumulative voting. On March 17, 2014, JCPenney had 304,693,329 shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to vote.

How many shares must be present to hold the Annual Meeting?

A majority of the outstanding shares of JCPenney common stock as of the record date, or 152,346,665 shares, must be present at the Annual Meeting in order to hold the meeting and conduct business. This is called a quorum.

 

 

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Shares are counted as present at the Annual Meeting if stockholders are present and vote in person or a proxy card has been properly submitted by or on behalf of stockholders. Abstentions and broker non-votes are counted for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum.

How many votes are required to elect directors and adopt the other proposals?

You may vote “For” or “Against” with respect to the election of directors. Our Bylaws provide that in a non-contested election, each director must be elected by the affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast with respect to that director’s election. Accordingly, abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the election of a director. Any director nominee who is an incumbent director and is not re-elected must promptly tender his or her resignation, and the Board of Directors, excluding the director who tenders his or her resignation, must promptly decide whether to accept or reject the resignation.

Ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as JCPenney’s independent auditor requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of JCPenney common stock present in person or by proxy that are entitled to vote on such matter. If you abstain from voting on this matter, your shares will be counted as present for purposes of establishing a quorum, and the abstention will have the same effect as a vote against the proposal. Broker non-votes will also have the same effect as a vote against the proposal.

Approval of the amendments to the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of JCPenney common stock outstanding as of the record date. If you abstain from voting on this matter, your shares will be counted as present for purposes of establishing a quorum, and the abstention will have the same effect as a vote against the proposal. Broker non-votes will also have the same effect as a vote against the proposal.

Approval of the 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan, the Amended Rights Agreement and our executive compensation in connection with the advisory vote on executive compensation requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of JCPenney common stock present in person or by proxy that are entitled to vote on such matter. If you abstain from voting on this matter, your shares will be counted as present for purposes of establishing a quorum, and the abstention will have the same effect as a vote against the proposal. Broker non-votes are not entitled to be cast for this matter and accordingly will have no effect on the approval.

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

In accordance with rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), rather than mailing a printed copy of our proxy materials to each stockholder of record, we may send some or all of our stockholders a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (Notice), which indicates how our stockholders may:

 

    access their proxy materials and vote their proxies over the Internet;
    make a one-time request to receive a printed set of proxy materials by mail; or
    make a permanent election to receive all of their proxy materials in printed form by mail or electronically by email.

How can I get electronic access to the proxy materials?

The Notice provides you with instructions regarding how to:

 

    view our proxy materials for the Annual Meeting over the Internet; and
    instruct us to send our future proxy materials to you electronically by email instead of sending you printed copies by mail.

Choosing to receive your future proxy materials by email will save us the cost of printing and mailing documents to you and will reduce the impact of our annual meetings of stockholders on the environment. If you

 

 

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choose to receive future proxy materials by email, you will receive an email next year with instructions containing a link to those materials and a link to the proxy voting site. Your election to receive proxy materials by email will remain in effect until you terminate it. The Form 10-K accompanies these proxy materials but is not considered part of the proxy soliciting materials.

How do I vote?

You can vote either in person at the Annual Meeting or by proxy whether or not you attend the Annual Meeting. To obtain directions to attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person, please call 972-431-1000. You can vote by proxy in three ways:

 

    by mail – If you received your proxy materials by mail, you can vote by mail by using the enclosed proxy card;
    by telephone – In the United States and Canada, you can vote by telephone by following the instructions on the Internet or on your proxy card if you received your materials by mail; or
    by Internet – You can vote by Internet by following the instructions on the Notice or on your proxy card if you received your materials by mail.

If you vote by proxy, your shares will be voted at the Annual Meeting in the manner you indicate. If you sign your proxy card, but do not specify how you want your shares to be voted, they will be voted as the Board of Directors recommends.

How do I attend the Annual Meeting?

Admission to the Annual Meeting is limited to JCPenney stockholders or their proxy holders. Each stockholder will be asked to present proof of stock ownership and a valid, government-issued photo identification, such as a driver’s license, before being admitted to the Annual Meeting. Proof of stock ownership may consist of the top portion of the proxy card or if shares are held in the name of a broker, bank or other nominee, an account statement or letter from the nominee indicating that the individual beneficially owned shares of JCPenney common stock on March 17, 2014, the record date for the Annual Meeting.

Can I change my vote after I execute my proxy?

You can revoke a proxy at any time prior to its exercise at the Annual Meeting. You can send in a new proxy card with a later date if you received your proxy materials by mail, or cast a new vote by telephone or Internet, or send a written notice of revocation to JCPenney’s Corporate Secretary at the address on the cover page of this proxy statement. If you attend the Annual Meeting and want to vote in person, you can request that any previously submitted proxy not be used.

How do I vote my shares of JCPenney common stock in the Savings Plan?

If you are a participant in the J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc. Savings, Profit-Sharing and Stock Ownership Plan (the Savings Plan), you will receive a separate voting instruction card for the shares allocated to your account in the Savings Plan. This voting instruction card will allow you to instruct State Street Bank and Trust Company, as trustee for the Savings Plan, how to vote your shares. If you do not vote your shares in the Savings Plan, State Street Bank and Trust Company will vote them in the same proportion as those shares for which it has received voting instructions.

Will my vote be kept confidential?

Yes. JCPenney’s policy is that all proxy or voting instruction cards, ballots, and vote tabulations which identify the vote of an individual stockholder are to be kept secret. Your vote will only be disclosed:

 

    to allow the independent election inspectors to certify the results of the vote;
    if JCPenney is legally required to disclose your vote or is defending or asserting claims in a lawsuit;

 

 

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    if there is a proxy contest involving the Company; or
    if you make a written comment on your proxy or voting instruction card or ballot.

Who pays for this proxy solicitation?

JCPenney does. In addition to soliciting proxies by mail, JCPenney may solicit proxies by telephone, personal contact, and electronic means. No director, officer, or employee of JCPenney will be specially compensated for these activities. JCPenney has hired Innisfree M&A Incorporated, a proxy solicitation firm, to assist in soliciting proxies for an estimated fee of $15,000 plus reimbursement for reasonable expenses.

JCPenney will also reimburse brokers, fiduciaries, and custodians for their costs in forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners of JCPenney common stock.

Could other matters be decided at the Annual Meeting?

We do not know of any other matters that will be considered at the Annual Meeting. If any matter other than those described in this proxy statement arises at the Annual Meeting, the proxies will be voted at the discretion of the proxy holder.

 

 

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

More than a century ago, James Cash Penney founded this Company on the principle of the Golden Rule: treat others the way you would like to be treated. While JCPenney has gone through many changes throughout its history, the foundation built by honesty, trust and integrity has never wavered. Our corporate governance principles continue to reflect the highest ethical standards rooted in our rich heritage as we seek to achieve excellence in our work, products, and services for our customers and our stockholders.

Governing Documents

The key documents that make up our corporate governance framework are our:

 

    Corporate Governance Guidelines, including our Standards for the Determination of Director Independence, Lead Independent Director Policy and our Policy on Review and Consideration of Related Person Transactions;
    Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended;
    Bylaws, as amended;
    Audit Committee Charter;
    Finance and Planning Committee Charter;
    Corporate Governance Committee Charter;
    Human Resources and Compensation Committee Charter;
    Charter of the Committee of the Whole;
    Statement of Business Ethics; and
    Standards and Procedures for Director Nominations.

You can access each of these documents on our website at www.jcp.com by clicking on “Investors,” then “Corporate Governance.” You can also obtain a free copy of any of these documents by sending a written request to JCPenney’s Corporate Secretary at P.O. Box 10001, Dallas, Texas 75301.

Corporate Governance Guidelines

This document sets forth the Company’s primary principles and policies regarding corporate governance, which are the foundation of our commitment to best practices. You can access our Corporate Governance Guidelines at www.jcp.com. The Guidelines are reviewed annually by the Corporate Governance Committee and the Board. The matters covered by the Guidelines include:

 

    director responsibilities;
    the size of the Board;
    director independence and minimum qualifications;
    factors to be considered in selecting candidates to serve on the Board;
    the Company’s voting standard for the election of directors;
    director retirement;
    director resignations upon change of principal employment or personal circumstances;
    directors’ outside directorships and outside audit committee service;
    Board organization, including committees of the Board and the role and responsibilities of the lead independent director;
    policies relating to Board meetings;
    executive sessions for directors;
    ethical principles to be followed by directors;
    policies and procedures for reviewing related person transactions and conflicts of interest;
    claw-back policy on recovery of compensation in the event of a financial restatement;
    the Board’s access to management and independent advisors;

 

 

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    stockholders’ and other interested parties’ communications to non-employee directors;
    director orientation and continuing education;
    prohibition of loans to directors and executive officers;
    stock ownership goals for directors and members of the Company’s senior management team;
    prohibition on hedging and pledging of Company stock;
    management succession and CEO evaluation; and
    annual self-assessments of the Board and each of the Audit, Corporate Governance, Finance and Planning and Human Resources and Compensation Committees.

Board Leadership Structure

Thomas J. Engibous, a non-employee, independent director, serves as the Company’s Non-Executive Chairman of the Board. The duties of the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board include:

 

    presiding over all meetings of the Board and regular executive sessions of the non-employee, independent members of the Board;
    approving the scheduling of Board meetings as well as the agenda and materials for each Board meeting and executive session of the Board’s non-employee, independent directors;
    calling and presiding over meetings of the non-employee, independent directors;
    meeting regularly with the CEO and serving as a liaison and channel of communication between the non-employee, independent directors and the CEO; and
    presiding over all meetings of stockholders and communicating with stockholders as appropriate.

The Board of Directors, as part of its continuing review of corporate governance matters, decided to separate the Chairman and CEO roles in January 2012 and elect a Non-Executive Chairman of the Board after careful consideration and upon recommendation by the Corporate Governance Committee. The Board believes that JCPenney’s current leadership structure enhances the Board’s ability to ensure that the appropriate level of independent oversight is applied to all management decisions.

Board of Directors’ Role in Risk Oversight

The Board of Directors oversees an enterprise-wide approach to risk management, designed to support the achievement of organizational objectives, including strategic objectives, to improve long-term organizational performance and to enhance stockholder value. A fundamental part of risk management 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 the company. The involvement of the full Board of Directors in reviewing the Company’s business strategy is an integral aspect of its assessment of management’s tolerance for risk and also its determination of what constitutes an appropriate level of risk for the Company. In addition to management’s discussion of risk with the full Board of Directors throughout the year, the independent directors also discuss risk management during their executive sessions without management present over which the Non-Executive Chairman presides. The Board’s Committees also consider risk appropriate to their respective jurisdictions throughout the year.

Policies and Procedures with Respect to Related Person Transactions

The Board of Directors recognizes that related person transactions can present a heightened risk of conflicts of interest. Accordingly, as a general matter, our directors and executive officers are to avoid any activity, interest, or relationship that would create, or might appear to others to create, a conflict with the interests of JCPenney.

Our written Policy on Review and Consideration of Related Person Transactions (Policy) is included as Appendix C to our Corporate Governance Guidelines, which can be accessed at www.jcp.com. For purposes of SEC rules as well as our Policy, a “related person transaction” is any transaction in which the Company was, is

 

 

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or will be a participant and the amount involved exceeds $120,000 and in which any related person had, has or will have a direct or indirect material interest. The term “related person” means (a) any person who is, or at any time since the beginning of the Company’s last fiscal year was, a director or executive officer of the Company or a nominee to become a director of the Company, (b) any person who is known to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of any class of the Company’s voting securities, and (c) any immediate family member of any of the foregoing persons. We review all relationships and transactions in which the Company and a related person are participants to determine whether such persons have a direct or indirect material interest. To identify potential related person transactions, we request certain information from our directors and executive officers. We then review the information provided for any related person transactions. The Corporate Governance Committee reviews and determines whether to approve or ratify any related person transaction that is required to be disclosed. Any member of the Corporate Governance Committee who is a related person with respect to a transaction under review may not participate in the deliberations or vote respecting approval or ratification of the transaction.

Board Independence

The Board reviews the independence of each non-employee director annually to confirm that the director continues to meet our standards as well as the requirements of the NYSE. No member of the Board will be considered independent unless the Board determines that he or she has no material relationship with the Company that would affect his or her independence and that he or she otherwise satisfies JCPenney’s director independence standards as well as all applicable laws, rules and regulations. Our “Standards for the Determination of Director Independence” are included as Appendix A to our Corporate Governance Guidelines, which can be accessed at www.jcp.com.

The factors the Board considers in determining whether a director is independent include:

 

    Whether within the preceding three years,
    the director is or was an employee of JCPenney;
    a member of the director’s immediate family is or was an executive officer of JCPenney;
    the director or an immediate family member of the director received more than $120,000 per year in direct compensation from JCPenney (other than compensation for service as a director or pension or other forms of deferred compensation for prior service);
    the director or an immediate family member of the director was a partner or employee of JCPenney’s external auditor and personally worked on JCPenney’s audit within that time;
    the director or an immediate family member of the director is or was employed as an executive officer of another company where any of JCPenney’s present executive officers serve on the compensation committee of that company’s board of directors;
    the director or an immediate family member of the director is or was an employee or executive officer of another company that makes payments to, or receives payments from, JCPenney in excess of the greater of $1,000,000 or 2% of that company’s consolidated gross revenues;
    Whether the director or an immediate family member of the director is a current partner of JCPenney’s external auditor;
    Whether the director is a current employee of JCPenney’s external auditor;
    Whether an immediate family member of the director is a current employee of JCPenney’s external auditor and personally works on JCPenney’s audit; and
    Whether the director serves as an officer, director or trustee of a charitable organization or as a member of that organization’s fund-raising entity or committee that received contributions from JCPenney in excess of the greater of $1,000,000 or 2% of the charity’s gross revenues.

The Board has reviewed each director’s independence for fiscal 2014. Applying the standards listed above as well as the requirements of the NYSE, the Board has determined that each of the directors, except for Mr. Ullman, is independent.

 

 

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Meeting Attendance

During fiscal 2013, the Board held 24 meetings and committees of the Board held a total of 40 meetings. Each director attended at least 75% of the total number of meetings of the Board and committees on which he or she served.

All directors are strongly encouraged to attend the Annual Meeting, but we do not have a formal attendance requirement. In 2013, all of the members of the Board attended the Annual Meeting.

Executive Sessions

The non-employee, independent directors meet in executive session with no Company associates present as a part of each regularly scheduled Board meeting. The Company’s Non-Executive Chairman of the Board, Thomas J. Engibous, presides over these sessions.

Communications with the Board of Directors

Any Company stockholder or other interested party who wishes to communicate with the Board of Directors or with an individual director may direct such communications by telephone to 1-800-527-0063, by facsimile to 972-431-1977, by email to jcpdirectors@jcpenney.com, or by writing to:

Corporate Secretary

J. C. Penney Company, Inc.

P.O. Box 10001

Dallas, TX 75301

The communication must be clearly addressed to the Board of Directors or to a specific director(s). If a response is desired, the individual should also provide contact information such as name, address and telephone number.

All such communications will be reviewed initially by the Company’s Corporate Secretary and entered into a log for tracking purposes. The Board has asked the Corporate Secretary to forward to the appropriate director(s) all correspondence, except for items unrelated to the Board’s functions, business solicitations, advertisements, and materials that are profane. The Corporate Secretary prepares a periodic summary report of all such communications for the Board.

Communications with the Audit Committee

Complaints and concerns relating to the Company’s accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters should be communicated to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. Any such communication may be made on an anonymous basis and may be reported to the Audit Committee through the Company’s Senior Vice President-Audit by calling 1-800-527-0063, by website at www.jcpline.com or by writing to:

Senior Vice President – Audit

J. C. Penney Company, Inc.

P.O. Box 250335

Plano, TX 75025-0335

All such concerns will be reviewed under the direction of the Audit Committee and oversight by the Senior Vice President-Audit, the General Counsel, or such other persons as the Audit Committee determines to be appropriate. Confidentiality is maintained to the fullest extent possible, consistent with the need to conduct an adequate review. Prompt and appropriate corrective action will be taken when and as deemed appropriate in the judgment of the Audit Committee. The Senior Vice President-Audit will prepare a periodic summary report of all such communications for the Audit Committee.

 

 

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Board Diversity, Director Qualifications and Process for Nominations

JCPenney is committed to creating an inclusive work environment where everyone is respected and valued. A workforce that understands JCPenney’s diverse customer base helps ensure that the Company’s products, services and message are relevant in every community where the Company does business.

The Board’s philosophy on diversity mirrors the Company’s philosophy. In connection with the selection of nominees for director, the Corporate Governance Committee strives to identify and recruit high-caliber individuals whose diverse talents, perspectives, experiences and backgrounds would preserve and enhance the inclusive environment in which the Board currently functions.

As provided in the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, nominees for director, including those directors who are eligible to stand for re-election, are selected based on, among other things, consideration of the following factors:

 

    character and integrity;
    business and management experience;
    demonstrated competence in dealing with complex problems;
    familiarity with the Company’s business;
    diverse talents, backgrounds, and perspectives;
    freedom from conflicts of interest;
    regulatory and stock exchange membership requirements for the Board;
    sufficient time to devote to the affairs of the Company; and
    reputation in the business community.

In considering whether to nominate directors who are eligible to stand for re-election, the Committee also considers the quality of past director service, attendance at Board and committee meetings, compliance with the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines (including satisfying the expectations for individual directors), as well as input from other Board members concerning the director’s performance and independence.

Although the Board retains ultimate responsibility for approving candidates for election, the Corporate Governance Committee conducts the initial screening and evaluation process. In doing so, the Committee considers candidates recommended by directors and the Company’s management, as well as any recommendations from Company stockholders. Additionally, the Committee takes into account the Board’s current composition and the capabilities and attributes of serving Board members, as well as additional capabilities and attributes considered necessary or desirable in light of existing Company needs and the goal of preserving and enhancing Board diversity. The Committee periodically engages one or more search firms to assist in the identification and recruitment of director candidates.

To recommend a candidate for election to the Board, a stockholder must submit the following information to the Corporate Secretary of the Company at least 90 days in advance of the Annual Meeting:

 

    The stockholder’s name and address;
    A representation that the stockholder is a holder of record and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting;
    The name and address of the stockholder’s nominee for director;
    A description of any arrangements or understandings between the stockholder and the director nominee or any other person (naming such person(s)) relating to the election of the nominee to the Board;
    The biographical and other information about the nominee that would be required to be included in a proxy statement filed pursuant to the proxy rules of the SEC; and
    The nominee’s consent to serve on the Board.

In general, candidates recommended by stockholders will be evaluated under the same process as candidates recommended by existing directors, Company management or third-party search firms. However, the Corporate

 

 

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Governance Committee will additionally seek and consider information concerning the relationship between a stockholder’s recommended nominee and the stockholder to determine whether the nominee can effectively represent the interests of all stockholders. Also, except in unusual circumstances, the Committee will not evaluate a stockholder-recommended candidate unless and until the stockholder advises that the potential candidate has indicated a willingness to serve as a director, to comply with the expectations and requirements for Board service and to provide all the information required to conduct an evaluation.

 

 

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BOARD COMMITTEES

The Board of Directors has five principal standing committees. Committee members consist entirely of non-employee directors and the Board has determined that each of the members of these committees is “independent,” as defined under our standards of independence and under NYSE listing standards.

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee’s responsibilities include the selection and retention of the independent auditor for the annual audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements and the approval of audit fees and non-audit services and fees paid to the independent auditor. The Committee reviews the independent auditor’s strategy and plan, scope, audit results, performance and independence, internal audit reports on the adequacy of internal controls, the Company’s ethics program, status of significant legal matters, the scope of the internal auditor’s plans and budget and results of its audits, and the effectiveness of the Company’s program for correcting audit findings. The Committee also participates in the certification process relating to the filing of certain periodic reports pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act). A copy of the Audit Committee’s Charter is available at the Company’s website at www.jcp.com. Also available on the Company’s website are procedures for the confidential and anonymous reporting of matters relating to questionable accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing matters.

During fiscal 2013, this Committee held seven meetings. Its current members are Thomas J. Engibous, Javier G. Teruel, Mary Beth West, and Leonard H. Roberts, who serves as its Chair. The Board of Directors has determined that each member of this Committee is “financially literate” and qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert,” as those terms are defined by the Exchange Act and the NYSE.

Corporate Governance Committee

The Corporate Governance Committee performs the functions of a nominating committee, considers matters of corporate governance and reviews developments in the governance area as they affect relations between the Company and its stockholders. It also develops and recommends to the Board corporate governance principles and practices for the Company and makes recommendations to the Board with respect to the size, composition, organization and responsibilities of the Board and its directors, the qualifications of directors, candidates for election as directors, the compensation of directors, annual independence determinations, and the annual performance self-assessment process by the Board and each of the Audit, Corporate Governance, Finance and Planning, and Human Resources and Compensation Committees. A copy of the Corporate Governance Committee’s Charter, the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, and Standards and Procedures for Director Nominations are available on the Company’s website at www.jcp.com. See “Board Diversity, Director Qualifications and Process for Nominations” on page 9 for more information on the Corporate Governance Committee’s process for identifying and evaluating nominees for director.

During fiscal 2013, this Committee met five times. Its current members are Colleen C. Barrett, Kent B. Foster, R. Gerald Turner, and Mary Beth West, who serves as its Chair.

Finance and Planning Committee

The Finance and Planning Committee is responsible for reviewing the Company’s financial policies, strategies, and capital structure. A copy of the Finance and Planning Committee’s Charter is available on the Company’s website at www.jcp.com.

During fiscal 2013, this Committee met fifteen times. Its current members are Thomas J. Engibous, Leonard H. Roberts, Stephen I. Sadove, Ronald W. Tysoe and Javier G. Teruel, who serves as its Chair.

 

 

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Human Resources and Compensation Committee

The Human Resources and Compensation Committee’s responsibilities include reviewing and administering the Company’s annual and long-term incentive compensation plans, reviewing the administration and operation of certain of the Company’s retirement and welfare plans, taking action or making recommendations with respect to the compensation of executive officers, including making a non-binding recommendation to the Committee of the Whole regarding the CEO’s compensation level, and reviewing succession plans for key Company executives, including the CEO. In addition, its responsibilities include reviewing the annual financial and investment performance results of the Company’s retirement and welfare plans, including the annual actuarial valuation reports applicable to such plans. A copy of the Human Resources and Compensation Committee’s Charter is available on the Company’s website at www.jcp.com. See also this Committee’s report on page 37. For a discussion of the processes and procedures for determining executive and director compensation and the roles of management and compensation consultants in determining or recommending the amount or form of compensation, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” beginning on page 22 and “Director Compensation for Fiscal 2013” beginning on page 53.

During fiscal 2013, this Committee met ten times. Its current members are Colleen C. Barrett, Stephen I. Sadove, R.  Gerald Turner, Ronald W. Tysoe and Kent B. Foster, who serves as its Chair.

Committee of the Whole

The Committee of the Whole assists the Board in discharging its responsibilities relating to the setting of performance goals and objectives, the evaluation of performance in light of those goals and objectives, and the setting of compensation for the Company’s CEO. A copy of the Committee of the Whole’s Charter is available on the Company’s website at www.jcp.com. See also “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” beginning on page 22.

During fiscal 2013, this Committee met three times. The Committee is composed solely of the independent members of the Board. Its current members are Colleen C. Barrett, Kent B. Foster, Leonard H. Roberts, Stephen I. Sadove, Javier G. Teruel, R. Gerald Turner, Ronald W. Tysoe, Mary Beth West, and Thomas J. Engibous, who serves as its Chair.

The mailing address for all of these committees is c/o Corporate Secretary, J. C. Penney Company, Inc., P.O. Box 10001, Dallas, Texas 75301.

 

 

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COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION

The Human Resources and Compensation Committee and Committee of the Whole are each composed entirely of persons who are neither Company associates nor former or current officers of the Company. There is not, nor was there during fiscal 2013, any compensation committee interlock or insider participation on the Human Resources and Compensation Committee or the Committee of the Whole.

SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires JCPenney’s directors and officers and persons who beneficially own more than ten percent of a registered class of the Company’s equity securities to file initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership with the SEC. The Company assists its directors and officers by monitoring transactions and completing and filing Section 16 reports on their behalf. Due to administrative error, Company stock options beneficially owned by Myron E. Ullman, III and phantom stock units reflecting units of participation in the JCPenney stock fund credited to Mr. Ullman’s account under the Mirror Savings Plan as of the date he re-joined the Company were inadvertently omitted from his Form 3 filed on April 17, 2013. The options and phantom stock units were subsequently reported on a Form 5 filed on March 7, 2014. All of the stock options have exercise prices that are currently above the Company’s stock price.

 

 

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BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF COMMON STOCK

The following table shows, as of February 28, 2014, the beneficial ownership of shares of JCPenney common stock by (a) each stockholder known to the Company to beneficially own more than 5% of JCPenney common stock, (b) each present director, all of whom are nominees for re-election at the Annual Meeting, (c) the five most highly compensated present executive officers serving during the last fiscal year, and three former executive officers who are also deemed to be named executive officers, and (d) all present directors and executive officers of the Company as a group. Beneficial ownership means that the individual has or shares voting power or investment power with respect to the shares of common stock or the individual has the right to acquire the shares of common stock within 60 days of February 28, 2014.

 

Name

   Number of shares
beneficially
owned
    Number of shares included in
previous column which the
individual or group has/have the
right to acquire within 60 days of
February 28, 2014
     Percent of
outstanding
common stock(1)
 

BlackRock, Inc.

     24,316,027 (2)              7.98

State Street Corporation

     20,777,944 (3)              6.82

The Vanguard Group

     15,210,372 (4)              5.00

Directors(5)

       

Colleen C. Barrett

     41,587        36,801         *   

Thomas J. Engibous

     96,166        36,801         *   

Kent B. Foster

     52,513 (6)      36,801         *   

Leonard H. Roberts

     64,592        36,801         *   

Stephen I. Sadove

     55,565        10,565         *   

Javier G. Teruel

     170,971        32,298         *   

R. Gerald Turner

     59,860 (7)      38,401         *   

Ronald W. Tysoe

     8,706        8,706         *   

Myron E. Ullman, III

     993,167        878,766         *   

Mary Beth West

     35,960        35,960         *   

Named Executive Officers(5)(8)

       

Kenneth H. Hannah

     41,254        41,254         *   

Janet L. Dhillon

     278,874        209,690         *   

Brynn L. Evanson

     24,808        22,506         *   

D. Scott Laverty

     13,344        13,344         *   

Ronald B. Johnson(9)

     8,149,872        7,256,894         2.61

Michael W. Kramer(10)

     180,020        0         *   

Mark R. Sweeney(11)

     17,789        0         *   

All present directors and executive officers as a group(12)

     1,937,373        1,438,694         *   

 

* Less than 1%.
(1) Calculated based on Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) using the number of outstanding shares of common stock as of February 28, 2014.
(2) Based on information set forth in a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 10, 2014 by BlackRock, Inc. reporting sole power to vote or direct the vote and to dispose or direct the disposition of 24,316,027 shares of JCPenney common stock. The address of BlackRock is 40 East 52 nd Street, New York, New York 10022.
(3)

Based on information set forth in a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 3, 2014 by State Street Corporation reporting shared power to vote or direct the vote and to dispose or direct the disposition of 20,777,944 shares of JCPenney common stock, which includes 12,560,316 shares of JCPenney common stock held in trust under the J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc. Savings, Profit-Sharing and Stock Ownership Plan (Savings Plan). The address of State Street Corporation and State Street Bank and Trust Company is State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. State Street Bank and Trust

 

 

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  Company serves as trustee for the Savings Plan trust; State Street Bank and Trust Company also serves as a lending bank under the revolving credit facility to which the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc., are parties.
(4) Based on information set forth in a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 11, 2014 by The Vanguard Group. reporting sole power to vote or direct the vote and to dispose or direct the disposition of 15,210,372 shares of JCPenney common stock. The address of The Vanguard Group is 100 Vanguard Boulevard, Malvern, Pennsylvania, 19355.
(5) Except as set forth in the footnotes below, each person has sole investment and voting power with respect to the common stock beneficially owned by such person. Includes only those stock options that are exercisable or become exercisable within 60 days of February 28, 2014. Does not include restricted stock units that will not vest within 60 days of February 28, 2014.
(6) Includes 337 shares of JCPenney common stock with respect to which Mr. Foster shares voting and investment power.
(7) Includes 1,742 shares of JCPenney common stock that Dr. Turner holds under the Company’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan with respect to which he shares voting and investment power.
(8) In addition to Mr. Ullman, who also served as a director during fiscal year 2013.
(9) Stock ownership for Mr. Johnson reflects direct holdings as of April 8, 2013, the last day on which he served as an executive officer and director of the Company, and his ownership of a warrant that he purchased prior to his employment with the Company. The warrant entitles him to acquire 7,256,894 shares of JCPenney common stock following the termination of his employment with the Company.
(10) Stock ownership for Mr. Kramer reflects direct holdings as of April 17, 2013, the last day on which he served as an executive officer of the Company, along with restricted stock units that will vest within 60 days of such date.
(11) Stock ownership for Mr. Sweeney reflects direct holdings as of September 20, 2013, the last day on which he served as an executive officer of the Company, along with restricted stock units that will vest, and options exercisable, within 60 days of such date.
(12) Excludes shares of Messrs. Johnson, Kramer and Sweeney, who no longer serve as executive officers of the Company.

 

 

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EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN(S) INFORMATION

The following table shows the number of options and other awards outstanding as of February 1, 2014 under the J. C. Penney Company, Inc. 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan (2012 Plan) and subsequent plans, as well as the number of shares remaining available for grant under the 2012 Plan.

 

Plan Category

   Number of securities to
be issued upon exercise
of outstanding options,
warrants and rights

(a)
    Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights

(b)
    Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance under
equity compensation
plans (excluding
securities reflected in
column (a))

(c)
 

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

     15,688,783 (1)    $   36 (2)      7,265,944 (3) 

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

                   900,000 (4) 

Total

     15,688,783      $ 36        8,165,944   

 

(1) Includes 1,701,220 restricted stock units.
(2) Represents the weighted-average exercise price of outstanding stock options only and the weighted average remaining term of 4.4 years.
(3) At the May 18, 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, our stockholders approved the 2012 Plan, which reserved an aggregate of 7,000,000 shares of common stock for issuance to associates and non-employee directors. In addition, shares underlying any outstanding stock award or stock option grant from prior plans that are cancelled prior to vesting or exercise become available for use under the 2012 Plan. No shares remain available for future issuance from prior plans.
(4) On February 22, 2012, the Company approved 900,000 shares of common stock reserved for issuance under an Inducement Award Plan. No shares have been issued from this plan as of February 1, 2014.

On March 17, 2014, the Company approved the annual grant of stock options and restricted stock unit awards. The annual grant is scheduled to occur on March 20, 2014 and the total number of shares of common stock required under the 2012 Plan will be based on the closing stock price on the date of grant. Using the closing price on March 17, 2014, the estimated number of shares of common stock required under the 2012 Plan will be 5,000,000.

Historical Equity Award Data

JCPenney granted performance-based restricted stock units (PBRSUs) in both fiscal 2011 and 2013, the majority of which were forfeited because threshold performance goals were not achieved. The only PBRSUs that were earned in fiscal 2011 and 2013 were due to the acceleration of awards in connection with an associate’s termination of employment. If the PBRSUs that were not earned and were forfeited are excluded from a calculation of the three-year average burn rate, then JCPenney’s three-year average burn rate would be 2.54%, as shown in the table below.

Burn rate from earned PBRSUs is calculated as (i) the number of stock options and time-based restricted stock units (TBRSUs) granted, plus (ii) the number of PBRSUs earned, divided by (iii) the weighted average basic common shares outstanding in the year indicated.

 

 

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     (a)    (b)      (c)           (d) = (a) : (c)            (e)    (d) ÷ (e)  

Fiscal

    Year    

  

Options

Granted

   TBRSUs
Granted
     PBRSUs
Earned
    Total
Granted/
    Earned    
    

Weighted Average
Basic Common
Shares Outstanding

   Burn
Rate
 
2013    3,448,316      971,089         111,987 (1)      4,531,392       249,295,000      1.82
2012    2,791,628      1,891,394         0 (2)      4,683,022       219,200,000      2.14
2011    2,522,138      5,251,954         172,673 (3)        7,946,765       217,400,000      3.66
              3-Year Average      2.54

 

(1) During fiscal 2013, 111,987 PBRSUs were earned and issued in connection with the acceleration of awards in connection with associates’ termination of employment. For reference, 1,082,211 stock-settled PBRSUs and 1,077,443 cash-settled PBRSUs were granted in fiscal 2013. Excludes 36,615 earned PBRSUs that were settled in cash because cash-settled units are excluded from burn rate calculations.
(2) No PBRSUs were granted in fiscal 2012.
(3) During fiscal 2011, 172,673 PBRSUs were earned and issued in connection with the acceleration of awards in connection with associates’ termination of employment. For reference, a total of 496,904 PBRSUs were granted in fiscal 2011.

The proposed 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan treats one TBRSU or PBRSU as equivalent to two stock options. If the three-year average burn rate were calculated in option-equivalents with one TBRSU or PBRSU treated as equivalent to two options, the three-year average would be 3.80%.

 

     (a)      (b)    (c)     (d) = (a) + [(b) + (c)]x2      (e)      (d) ÷ (e)  

Fiscal

    Year    

   Options
Granted
    

TBRSUs
Granted

   PBRSUs
Earned
    Total
Granted/
Earned(1)
     Weighted Average
Basic Common
Shares Outstanding
     Burn
Rate
 
2013      3,448,316       971,089      111,987 (2)      5,614,469         249,295,000         2.25
2012      2,791,628       1,891,394      0 (3)      6,574,416         219,200,000         3.00
2011      2,522,138       5,251,954      172,673 (4)      13,371,392         217,400,000         6.15
                3-Year Average         3.80

 

(1) Assumes TBRSUs and PBRSUs count as two-option equivalents.
(2) During fiscal 2013, 111,987 PBRSUs were earned and issued in connection with the acceleration of awards in connection with associates’ termination of employment. For reference, 1,082,211 stock-settled PBRSUs and 1,077,443 cash-settled PBRSUs were granted in fiscal 2013. Excludes 36,615 earned PBRSUs that were settled in cash because cash-settled units are excluded from burn rate calculations.
(3) No PBRSUs were granted in fiscal 2012.
(4) During fiscal 2011, 172,673 PBRSUs were earned and issued in connection with the acceleration of awards in connection with associates’ termination of employment. For reference, a total of 496,904 PBRSUs were granted in fiscal 2011.

 

 

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PROPOSAL 1 — ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

The terms of each of the Company’s current directors will expire at the 2014 Annual Meeting. Each of the current directors has been nominated by the Board of Directors to serve as a continuing director for a new one-year term expiring at the 2015 Annual Meeting. Each nominee elected as a director will continue in office until his or her successor has been elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation or retirement. We are not aware of any reason why any of these nominees would not accept the nomination. However, if any of the nominees does not accept the nomination, or is otherwise unavailable for election, the persons designated as proxies will vote for any substitute nominee recommended by the Board.

In determining whether to nominate each of the current directors for another term, the Board considered the factors discussed above in “Board Diversity, Director Qualifications and Process for Nominations” and concluded that each of the current directors standing for re-election possesses unique talents, backgrounds, perspectives, attributes and skills that will enable each of them to continue to provide valuable insights to Company management and play an important role in helping the Company achieve its long-term goals and objectives. As described below in the experience and qualifications of each of our director nominees, each nominee has achieved an extremely high level of success in his or her career. The Company does not have a mandatory retirement age for directors. There is no family relationship between any director or executive officer of the Company.

The Board recommends a vote FOR each of the nominees for director.

Nominees for Director

 

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Colleen C. Barrett, 69 - Director of the Company since 2004.

Business Experience:  President Emeritus since 2008, President and Director from 2001 to 2008, Chief Operating Officer from 2001 to 2004 and Corporate Secretary from 1978 to 2008 of Southwest Airlines Co. (airline), with which she served in positions of increasing importance since 1978, including Executive Vice President-Customers from 1990 to 2001 and Vice President-Administration from 1986 to 1990.

 

Ms. Barrett has extensive experience in the airline industry, in particular with Southwest Airlines, a company known for providing top customer service. In addition to customer relations, human resources and operations management experience, she has significant leadership, executive and board experience, including insights and perspectives on corporate governance, having served as a Director and in the positions of President, Chief Operating Officer and Corporate Secretary of a publicly-traded company.

 

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Thomas J. Engibous, 61 - Chairman of the Board since 2012, Director of the Company since 1999.

Business Experience:  Retired Chairman of the Board, Director from 1996 to 2008 and President and Chief Executive Officer from 1996 to 2004, of Texas Instruments Incorporated (electronics), with which he served in positions of increasing importance since 1976, including as an Executive Vice President from 1993 to 1996; Director of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited; Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Catalyst; Member of The Business Council; Member of the National Academy of Engineering; Honorary Trustee of the Southwestern Medical Foundation.

 

Mr. Engibous has extensive executive, financial and board experience in the technology industry, including service as Chairman and CEO of a leading publicly-traded technology company. He brings financial expertise to the JCPenney Board, as well as skills and talents from the technology industry to help JCPenney enhance its strategies to connect with and serve customers, capitalize on opportunities in digital retailing and use technology to advance operational efficiency.

 

 

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Kent B. Foster, 70 - Director of the Company since 1998.

Business Experience:  Retired Chairman of the Board, Director from 2000 to 2007, and Chief Executive Officer from 2000 to 2005, of Ingram Micro Inc. (wholesale distributor of technology); President of GTE Corporation (telecommunications) from 1995 to 1999; Director of GTE Corporation from 1989 to 1999, serving as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors from 1993 to 1995; President of GTE Telephone Operations Group from 1989 to 1995; Director of Campbell Soup Company from 1996 to 2008; Director of New York Life Insurance Company.

 

Mr. Foster has extensive executive and board experience in the communications and technology industries. That experience has given him skills and talents that help JCPenney enhance its customer-reach strategies, capitalize on opportunities in digital retailing and use technology to improve its operational efficiency. He also brings to the Board financial expertise resulting from his extensive executive experience and his prior service on the audit committee of the board of another company.

 

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Leonard H. Roberts, 65 - Director of the Company since 2002.

Business Experience:  Retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of RadioShack Corporation (consumer electronics), with which he served as Executive Chairman of the Board from 2005 to 2006, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer from 1999 to 2005, President from 1993 to 2000, and a Director from 1997 to 2006; Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Shoney’s, Inc. (restaurants) from 1990 to 1993; President and Chief Executive Officer of Arby’s, Inc. (restaurants) from 1985 to 1990; Director of TXU Corporation from 2005 to 2007; Director of Rent-A-Center, Inc.; Member of Executive Board of Students in Free Enterprise; Director of Tarrant County Safe City Commission; Former Chairman of the Board of Directors of Texas Health Resources.

 

Mr. Roberts has extensive executive and board experience in the retail industry, including service as the Chairman and as the CEO of a publicly-traded consumer electronics retailer and CEO positions with two restaurant operators. With this background, he has insights and perspectives on delivering merchandise and services to consumers, which he brings to the JCPenney Board. As a result of his extensive executive experience, he also brings financial expertise to the Board. He also currently serves on the board of another publicly-traded company.

 

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Stephen I. Sadove, 62 - Director of the Company since 2013.

Business Experience:  Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Saks Incorporated (luxury retailer), with which he served in positions of increasing importance since 2002, including Vice Chairman from 2002 to 2006, Chief Executive Officer from 2006 to 2013 and Chairman from 2007 to 2013; Senior Vice President and President, Worldwide Beauty Care, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company from 1998 to 2002, President, Worldwide Beauty Care and Nutritionals from 1997 to 1998, President, Worldwide Beauty Care from 1996 to 1997, President, Clairol from 1991 to 1996; Director of Saks Incorporated from 1998 to 2013; Director of Colgate-Palmolive Company; Director of Ruby Tuesday, Inc.; Director of Aramark Holdings Corporation; Chairman of the Board of the National Retail Federation; Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Hamilton College.

 

Mr. Sadove has extensive experience in the retail industry, including executive and board experience with a major U.S. retailer, through which he has gained considerable knowledge about the complexities involved in operating a large, retail organization. His service as Chairman of the Board of the National Retail Federation provides the Board with valuable insights and perspectives on issues affecting retailers. He also brings financial, human resources and corporate governance expertise resulting from his service on the boards of several public companies.

 

 

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Javier G. Teruel, 63 - Director of the Company since 2008.

Business Experience:  Partner of Spectron Desarrollo, SC (an investment management and consulting firm); Retired Vice Chairman (2004 to 2007) of Colgate-Palmolive Company (consumer products), with which he served in positions of increasing importance since 1971, including as Executive Vice President responsible for Asia, Central Europe, Africa and Hill’s Pet Nutrition, as Vice President of Body Care in Global Business Development in New York, as President and General Manager of Colgate-Mexico, as President of Colgate-Europe, and as Chief Growth Officer responsible for the company’s growth functions; Director of The Pepsi Bottling Group, Inc. from 2007 to 2010; Director of Starbucks Corporation; Director of Nielsen Company B.V.

 

Mr. Teruel has extensive executive experience in the consumer products industry. He brings to the JCPenney Board considerable product development, merchandising and marketing skills and perspectives. His broad international experience also provides unique insights relevant to the Company’s product sourcing initiatives. Mr. Teruel brings the benefits of service on the boards of other publicly-traded companies to the JCPenney Board, including financial expertise resulting from his service as the chair of the audit committee of one of the boards.

 

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R. Gerald Turner, 68 - Director of the Company since 1995.

Business Experience:  President of Southern Methodist University (education) since 1995; Chancellor of the University of Mississippi from 1984 to 1995; Co-Chairman, Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics since 2005; Director of Kronos Worldwide, Inc. and American Beacon Funds; Director of Methodist Hospital Foundation and the Salvation Army of Dallas.

 

Dr. Turner’s extensive career in academia provides the Company with valuable insights and perspectives on communicating with younger customers and associates. He also brings experience and skills in human resources and management. Dr. Turner’s current experience as president of a leading university provides him with perspective into the challenges of managing complex, multi-faceted organizations. In addition, his service on the boards of other publicly-traded companies, including committee service, has given him insights and perspectives on governance and human resources and compensation which benefit the JCPenney Board.

 

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Ronald W. Tysoe, 60 - Director of the Company since 2013

Business Experience:  Former Vice Chairman of Finance and Real Estate of Federated Department Stores, Inc. (now Macy’s, Inc.) from 1990 to 2006 and Chief Financial Officer from 1990 to 1997; Senior Advisor of Perella Weinberg Partners LP (global, independent advisory and asset management firm) from 2006 to 2007; Director of Federated Department Stores, Inc. from 1988 to 2005; Director of Ohio Casualty Corporation from 2006 to 2007; Director of NRDC Acquisition Corp. (now Retail Opportunity Investments Corp.) from 2007 to 2009; Director of Pzena Investment Management Inc. from 2008 to 2013; Director of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce; Director of Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc.; Director of Cintas Corporation; Director of Taubman Centers, Inc.

 

Mr. Tysoe has extensive experience in the retail industry, including executive and board experience with a major U.S. retailer. He provides valuable insights and perspectives to the Board as a result of his considerable financial and real estate experience. He also brings the benefits of service on the boards of other publicly-traded companies, including expertise in corporate strategy, compensation and corporate governance.

 

 

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Myron E. Ullman, III, 67 - Director of JCPenney from 2004-2012, and since April 2013

Business Experience:  Chairman of the Board from 2004 to 2012 and Chief Executive Officer of JCPenney from 2004 to November 2011, and since April 2013; Directeur General, Group Managing Director, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (luxury goods manufacturer/retailer) from 1999 to 2002; President of LVMH Selective Retail Group from 1998 to 1999; Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, DFS Group Ltd. from 1995 to 1998; Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of R. H. Macy & Company, Inc. from 1992 to 1995; Director of Saks Incorporated from February 2013 to April 2013; Director of Starbucks Corporation; Director of the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA); Director of the National Retail Federation; Trustee of the Committee for Economic Development; Chairman of Mercy Ships International; Chairman of the Board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.

 

Mr. Ullman has extensive experience in the retail industry, including executive and board experience with major U.S. and international retailers. Mr. Ullman’s experiences as Chairman, CEO and President of various entities during his career provide him with insight into the challenges inherent in managing a complex organization, in particular in connection with a turnaround, and holding members of management accountable for their own performance and the performance of the organization. He also currently serves on the board of another publicly-traded company. In addition, his service on the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas provides the Board with valuable insights and perspectives on macroeconomic conditions affecting JCPenney and its customers.

 

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Mary Beth West, 51 - Director of the Company since 2005.

Business Experience:  Executive Vice President and Chief Category and Marketing Officer of Mondelez International, Inc. (branded foods and beverages) since 2012; served in positions of increasing importance at Kraft Foods, Inc. from 1986-2012, including Executive Vice President and Chief Category and Marketing Officer from 2010 to 2012; Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer from 2007 to 2010; Group Vice President and President, Kraft Foods North American Beverage Sector from 2006 to 2007; Group Vice President and President, Kraft Foods North America Grocery Segment from 2004 to 2006; Senior Vice President and General Manager, Meals Division from 2001 to 2004; and Vice President, New Meals Division from 1999 to 2001; Member of the Executive Leadership Council and Foundation.

 

Ms. West has extensive executive experience in the branded foods and beverages industry, serving currently as the Executive Vice President and Chief Category and Marketing Officer of a publicly-traded food products company. Her experience with the product development, merchandising and marketing functions that support some of the best-known American brands enable her to help JCPenney enhance its strategies in these areas and build an emotional connection with customers. Ms. West also brings to the Board financial expertise resulting from her executive experience at Kraft and Mondelez.

 

 

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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

Our compensation philosophy is integrated with JCPenney’s core values and business strategy. Our core values were first stated in The Penney Idea, which was adopted in 1913 and which includes the principle that we will “reward men and women in our organization through participation in what the business produces.” This principle endures today in our executive compensation policies that link pay for performance and align the pay of our named executive officers with the interests of our stockholders.

Executive Summary

Leadership Changes.  Fiscal 2013 was a pivotal year for the Company. Our leadership team focused on turning around the business and positioning it on the path to profitable growth. The Board decided to bring back Myron E. (Mike) Ullman, III as Chief Executive Officer in April 2013 because of his previous experience with JCPenney and his overall experience as a retail chief executive officer. In setting Mr. Ullman’s compensation, the Board considered various factors, including the importance of his prior experience, the circumstances under which he was hired and competitive market data. In view of the challenges facing the Company, the Board and Mr. Ullman agreed that his sole compensation for 2013 would consist of a base salary of $1,000,000, which is significantly less than both market and the historical base salary for our CEO position. They also agreed that he would not participate in any 2013 annual or long-term incentive programs. Further, as a demonstration of his commitment to the Company, Mr. Ullman purchased common stock in November 2013 with a then market value of approximately $1,000,000.

Mr. Ullman’s immediate goals were to stabilize the Company’s business and to strengthen the Company’s financial condition. Mr. Ullman also worked to assemble a leadership team focused on our turnaround. For the fiscal year ended February 1, 2014, our named executive officers consisted of the following individuals. On February 13, 2014, we announced that Edward J. Record would be succeeding Kenneth H. Hannah as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, effective March 24, 2014.

 

Name

 

Title

 

Commencement of Position

Myron E. Ullman, III   Chief Executive Officer   April 8, 2013
Kenneth H. Hannah  

Executive Vice President

and Chief Financial Officer

  May 7, 2012
Janet L. Dhillon  

Executive Vice President,
General Counsel and

Secretary

  February 23, 2009
Brynn L. Evanson  

Executive Vice President,

Human Resources

  April 22, 2013
D. Scott Laverty  

Executive Vice President,

Chief Information Officer

  September 20, 2013

In connection with Mr. Ullman’s return, in April 2013 we announced the departure of Ronald Johnson, our former Chief Executive Officer, Michael Kramer, our former Chief Operating Officer and Daniel Walker, our former Chief Talent Officer. Mr. Johnson did not receive a severance payment. Mr. Walker voluntarily resigned so he did not receive a severance payment and none of his equity awards vested. In connection with Mr. Kramer’s departure, we agreed to reduce the severance payable under the terms of his Termination Pay Agreement by $1,000,000. In accordance with their original terms, his sign-on equity awards vested but only a pro rata portion of his inducement equity awards vested, resulting in him receiving 33% of total awards granted. In September 2013, we announced the departure of Mark Sweeney, our former Senior Vice President and Controller. Under Mr. Sweeney’s Termination Pay Agreement, he received a severance payment and pro-rata vesting of his equity awards, resulting in him receiving 25% of total awards granted.

 

 

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Business Performance.  In fiscal 2013, we focused on stabilizing our business, both financially and operationally, and rebuilding the Company from the inside out, working with management, marketing and merchandising to create strategies for reconnecting with our core customer. We achieved what we set out to do during the last nine months of the year and as a result, we generated positive comparable store sales in the fourth quarter for the first time since the second quarter of 2011. However, our full year results did not meet our compensation program targets, which were largely established at the beginning of the year prior to our management transition. For fiscal 2013, the Company had total sales of $11.86 billion, an operating loss of $1.42 billion and loss per share of $5.57, all of which were below 2012 levels.

Pay-For-Performance.  Our executive compensation program is designed to link pay to Company performance and align the pay of our named executive officers with the interests of our stockholders. In fiscal 2013, the majority of compensation payable to our current named executive officers (other than our CEO) was performance-based, consistent with our philosophy. Because we did not achieve our fiscal 2013 goals, the majority of this compensation was not earned and therefore was not paid.

Total Compensation Mix.  The chart below shows the target compensation mix for fiscal 2013 based on the aggregate target compensation for Ms. Dhillon, Ms. Evanson and Messrs. Hannah and Laverty. Target compensation mix is not the same as actual compensation for elements that were subject to performance contingencies.

 

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Cash Compensation.  Consistent with our pay-for-performance philosophy, none of our named executive officers earned an annual cash bonus award for fiscal 2013 because we did not achieve our financial goals. The cash bonus award opportunity for our named executive officers under our Management Incentive Compensation Program was based 50% on the Company’s sales and 50% on the Company’s operating profit.

We made separate cash bonus payments to two named executive officers in recognition of special circumstances. In June 2013, Mr. Laverty received a $50,000 bonus when he assumed additional responsibilities as interim Chief Information Officer. Mr. Laverty must reimburse the Company for a pro-rata portion of the award if he voluntarily terminates his employment without good reason or if we terminate his employment for cause prior to June 15, 2014. In January 2014, Ms. Dhillon received a $250,000 individual performance award under the Management Incentive Compensation Program in recognition of her significant contributions to the Company over the past year. The amount of the award was less than 50% of her target incentive opportunity for 2013. Ms. Dhillon must reimburse the Company for a pro-rata portion of the award if she voluntarily terminates her employment without good reason or if we terminate her employment for cause prior to January 20, 2015.

 

 

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For 2013, our current named executive officers (other than the CEO) received, collectively, approximately 60% of their aggregate target cash compensation. The chart below shows the target cash compensation and actual cash compensation for fiscal 2013 based on the aggregate amounts for Ms. Dhillon, Ms. Evanson and Messrs. Hannah and Laverty. The only bonuses shown in the chart reflect the special awards to Ms. Dhillon and Mr. Laverty. None of the other named executive officers earned any cash bonus payments for 2013.

 

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Equity Awards.  Annual equity awards in fiscal 2013 for our named executive officers consisted of 50% performance-based restricted stock units and 50% stock options. As a result of the challenges facing the Company in navigating a business turnaround, the earnings per share performance goal was not met and none of the performance-based restricted stock units were earned. At the end of fiscal 2013, the options were “underwater” because the exercise price was greater than the market price and thus will only deliver value to the named executive officers if the Company’s stock price subsequently increases above the date of grant price.

In July 2013, the Human Resources and Compensation Committee approved a supplemental, performance-based equity program (the Fall Incentive Plan) to incentivize officers to achieve critical back-to-school and holiday season goals. The Fall Incentive Plan linked pay to Company performance by providing named executive officers (other than the CEO) the opportunity to earn cash-settled performance-based restricted stock units based on the Company’s adjusted operating profit for the third and fourth fiscal quarters of 2013. Although we made substantial progress towards this goal, we did not achieve the plan performance target. As a result, none of our named executive officers earned their performance awards granted under this program.

In January 2014, the Human Resources and Compensation Committee approved an award of performance-based restricted stock units to Ms. Dhillon under the 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan. The award was made to recognize her significant contributions to the Company during the past year and the importance of her participation in our critical turnaround efforts.

 

 

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Realized Value of Equity Awards.  In fiscal 2013, the value of equity awards realized by our named executive officers was substantially less than the compensation reflected in the summary compensation table (SCT). The tables below compare the value of equity awards reflected in the SCT, which reflects the opportunity provided at the start of the compensation program, to the actual value of equity awards realized by Ms. Dhillon, Ms. Evanson and Messrs. Hannah and Laverty during fiscal year 2013. Equity compensation opportunities were significantly higher than actual amounts earned in 2013. Performance-based awards are shown with no value because they were not earned and option grants are shown with no value because they were substantially underwater at year end. The only equity awards shown as realized in the tables below reflect the vesting of equity awards granted to Ms. Dhillon and Ms. Evanson in years prior to 2013. Mr. Ullman did not receive any equity grants during the year and does not own any unvested shares. All of our named executive officers currently own exercisable options but none of them exercised options during 2013.

 

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The following table shows the components of the equity compensation shown in the above graph.

 

    Kenneth H. Hannah     Janet L. Dhillon     Brynn L. Evanson     D. Scott Laverty  
    SCT     Realized     SCT     Realized     SCT     Realized     SCT     Realized  
Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units   $ 875,006      $ 0      $ 1,499,996      $ 0      $ 349,995      $ 0      $ 175,007      $ 0   
Fall Incentive Plan   $ 325,008      $ 0      $ 325,008      $ 0      $ 325,008      $ 0      $ 199,998      $ 0   

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Stock Awards Subtotal:   $ 1,200,014      $ 0      $ 1,825,004      $ 0      $ 675,003      $ 0      $ 375,005      $ 0   

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Options   $ 874,997      $ 0      $ 1,000,002      $ 0      $ 347,980      $ 0      $ 174,997      $ 0   
Stock Vested   $ 0      $ 0      $ 0      $ 1,206,757      $ 0      $ 67,219      $ 0      $ 0   
Total   $   2,075,011      $               0      $   2,825,006      $   1,206,757      $   1,022,983      $      67,219      $    550,002      $               0   

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

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Key Features of Our Executive Compensation Program.  The Company’s executive compensation program includes key features that align the interests of the named executive officers with stockholders.

 

What We Do

 

ü   Align Pay with Company Performance:

The compensation program for our named executive officers aligns pay with actual Company sales and profit.

 

ü   Use Long-Term Incentives to Link the Majority of Pay to Performance:

Under our compensation program, almost 60% of pay for our named executive officers is long-term incentives linked to EPS and operating profit.

 

ü   Balance Short-Term and Long-Term Incentives:

The incentive programs provide an appropriate balance of annual and long-term incentives and include multiple measures of performance.

 

ü   Require Named Executive Officers to Maintain Stock Ownership:

We have stock ownership guidelines for executive officers at the senior vice president level and above.

 

ü   Authorize the Committee to “Claw-Back” Executive Compensation:

Our “claw-back” policy permits the Committee to recoup previously awarded equity-based incentive compensation and/or previously paid cash compensation.

What We Don’t Do

 

û   No Severance for Chief Executive Officer:

Our current Chief Executive Officer does not have an employment agreement, is not party to a Termination Pay Agreement and does not participate in a Change in Control Plan.

 

û   No Excise Tax Gross Ups:

In the event of a change in control, none of our named executive officers are entitled to a tax gross-up of any excise taxes imposed on the benefits payable under their respective change in control plan.

 

û   No “Single-Trigger” Change in Control Plans:

In the event of a change in control, severance benefits are payable only upon a “double trigger”.

 

û   No Hedging or Pledging of Company Stock:

Our directors and executive officers are prohibited from engaging in pledging or hedging activities involving Company securities.

 

û   No Option Repricing without Stockholder Approval
 

 

2013 Say-on-Pay Vote 

Approximately 91% of votes cast by the Company’s stockholders at the 2013 annual meeting were cast in favor of the Company’s executive compensation program. The Committee continues to evaluate and make changes to programs to reflect the Company’s circumstances. Our goal is to ensure the Company has the appropriate compensation programs in place to most effectively link pay-for-performance, to create stockholder value over the long-term, and to be consistent with good governance practices.

Establishing Our Executive Compensation Program

Role of the Human Resources and Compensation Committee.  The Human Resources and Compensation Committee (the Committee) of the Board of Directors (the Board) is responsible for establishing and implementing our executive compensation program. Each member of the Committee is independent under the listing standards of the NYSE.

The Committee determines compensation for each executive officer other than the CEO. The CEO’s compensation is determined by all of the independent directors of the Board.

 

 

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As part of the Committee’s deliberations, the CEO makes compensation recommendations for the executive officers other than himself. The Committee considers these recommendations in making its determinations.

Role of Independent Compensation Consultant.  The Committee engages an independent consultant to assist in its deliberations and decision-making regarding executive compensation. The Committee’s consultant provides market research and analyses against which executive compensation programs and proposals can be evaluated, including a review of competitive market trends and design practices and a review of the Company’s peer group. The Committee has sole authority to retain and terminate its consultant and sole authority to approve the fees and other terms of the engagement of its consultant. The independent consultant reports directly to the Committee and does not work for the Company’s management in any capacity.

In September 2013, the Committee selected Meridian Compensation Partners LLC (Meridian) as its independent consultant. In selecting Meridian as its consultant, the Committee considered all factors relevant to Meridian’s independence from management in accordance with the listing standards of the NYSE. Prior to September 2013, the Committee’s independent consultant was James F. Reda & Associates, LLC, a division of Gallagher Benefit Services.

Role of Management.  Management makes recommendations to the Committee regarding the design and implementation of our executive compensation programs. Management works with its outside executive compensation consultant, Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc. (Frederic W. Cook), in making recommendations that are consistent with the Company’s philosophy and objectives. The Committee may review data and analyses provided by management and its consultant. Frederic W. Cook does not work for the Committee or the Board in any capacity.

Role of Peer Companies and Benchmarking.  We compete against a broad array of companies for executive talent. Accordingly, we benchmark the competitiveness of our various compensation programs against the compensation programs of selected peer companies.

For 2013, the following companies constituted the peer group for comparison purposes:

 

Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc.    Marriott International, Inc.    Target Corp.
Gap, Inc.    Nike, Inc.    TJX Companies, Inc. (The)
Kohl’s Corp.    Ross Stores, Inc.    V. F. Corp.
Limited Brands, Inc.    Sears Holdings Corp.    Williams-Sonoma, Inc.
Lowe’s Companies, Inc.    Staples, Inc.    YUM! Brands, Inc.
Macy’s, Inc.    Starbucks Corporation   

These companies represent a combination of select retail and high brand value companies with which the Company competes for talent. We generally used revenues between 0.33x-3.0x of the Company’s and market capitalization of at least 0.33x of the Company’s as parameters when setting the 2013 peer group. Based on fiscal 2012 data, the peer group median was 0.84x of the Company’s revenue and 3.02x of the Company’s market capitalization.

As part of the annual review process, the Committee reviews the companies within the peer group. For 2014, the Committee re-evaluated the composition of the peer group and determined that Lowe’s Companies, Inc. and Starbucks Corporation should be removed.

Stockholder Outreach.  We view a continuing, constructive dialogue with our long-term stockholders on matters such as executive compensation and corporate governance as important, even critical, to ensuring that we remain aligned with their interests. We regularly talk to long-term stockholders and appreciate the opportunity to gain further insight and understanding into their views, including on our executive compensation program. We have experienced a significant amount of turnover in our stockholder base since the 2013 annual meeting, which has impacted our ability to establish a continuing dialogue with a substantial portion of our stockholders.

 

 

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Internal Pay Relationships.  Our compensation philosophy reflects the importance of offering a competitive target compensation package to each of the named executive officers. In general, the differences in pay between the named executive officers relative to each other as well as the CEO are based on market differences for the particular job, job responsibilities and scope, and adjustments for individual experience and performance, rather than a pre-determined ratio or multiple.

Relationship of Executive Compensation to Risk.  In connection with fulfilling its responsibilities, the Committee considers whether the design of the Company’s executive compensation program encourages senior executives to engage in excessive risk-taking. The Committee reviews the overall program design, as well as the balance between short-term and long-term compensation, the metrics used to measure performance and the award opportunity under the Company’s incentive compensation program, and the implementation of other administrative features designed to mitigate risk such as incentive caps, vesting requirements, stock ownership guidelines, insider trading policy, and a claw-back policy as described below. Based on its review, the Committee believes that the Company’s executive compensation program is aligned with the interests of stockholders, appropriately rewards pay for performance, and does not promote unnecessary or excessive risk.

Compensation of Our Named Executive Officers

Chief Executive Officer.  In view of the challenges facing the Company, the Board and Mr. Ullman agreed that his sole compensation would be a base salary of $1,000,000, which is significantly less than both market and the historical base salary for our CEO position. They also agreed that he would not participate in any 2013 annual or long-term incentive programs.

Other Named Executive Officers.  In general, there are three principal components of our executive compensation program:

 

    Base Salary
    Annual cash bonus awards; and
    Long-term equity incentive awards

Reflecting the pay-for-performance philosophy of our compensation program, the majority of the compensation opportunity in fiscal 2013 for our executive officers (other than the CEO) is based on Company performance. We believe that a combination of annual cash bonus awards and long-term incentive awards strikes the appropriate balance between the near-term focus on Company performance and the long-term focus on stockholder value creation.

In fiscal 2013, our annual long-term incentive awards for executive officers (other than the CEO) consisted of 50% performance-based restricted stock units and 50% stock options. These awards emphasized pay for Company performance and strengthened our officers’ alignment with stockholder interests. The performance-based restricted stock units will only deliver value if the performance goal is met. The performance goal was not met in fiscal 2013 and none of the performance-based restricted stock units were earned. The options will only deliver value to the executive officers if the market price of the common stock increases after the date of grant. In July 2013, we granted a supplemental performance equity award of cash-settled performance-based restricted stock units, which were contingent on adjusted operating profit during the second half of the year. The performance goal was not met and none of the supplemental performance-based restricted stock units were earned.

Base Salary.  We pay base salaries that are competitive based on market data for comparable positions at companies in our peer group. We review base salaries annually and compare them against median market data for the position. Once base salary has been set for the year, it does not change based on Company performance. Merit increases are intended to reward individual performance and are also intended to ensure that the individual’s base salary remains competitive for the position and level of responsibility. In 2013, none of our named executive officers received merit increases. Ms. Evanson and Mr. Laverty received salary increases in connection with their promotions to their current positions. The Summary Compensation Table presents the named executive officers’ actual salaries for 2013.

 

 

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Annual Cash Bonus Awards.  Annual cash bonuses are determined and paid pursuant to our Management Incentive Compensation Program. This program provides named executive officers as well as other management associates the opportunity to earn cash awards based on the achievement of specified Company goals. Mr. Ullman joined the Company after the determination of the goals and did not participate in the program in 2013. For the other named executive officers, the program provided that 50% of the award was based on the Company’s sales and 50% was based on the Company’s operating profit, in each case in relation to pre-established goals. These metrics were selected to incentivize associates to achieve top line growth and profitability. Each component of the award has a separate payout opportunity. Because we did not achieve our financial goals, none of our named executive officers earned an annual cash bonus award for fiscal 2013.

The program structure provides each participant with a “target incentive opportunity” that is a percentage of the individual’s base pay. The range of potential payouts for each of the named executive officers for 2013 is presented in the Grants of Plan-Based Awards table. The target opportunity percentages shown below reflect Ms. Evanson’s and Mr. Laverty’s current target percentages. Since they were promoted during the year, the target opportunity dollar amounts in the table below and in the Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table reflected pro-rated amounts based on the time in their respective positions.

 

Name

 

Position

  Target Opportunity
(% of Salary)
    Target Opportunity
($)
    Actual Cash Bonus
Award
 

Myron E. Ullman, III

  Chief Executive Officer     0   $ 0      $   0   

Kenneth H. Hannah

  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer     80   $   680,000      $ 0   

Janet L. Dhillon

  Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary     75   $ 525,000      $ 0   

Brynn L. Evanson

  Executive Vice President, Human Resources     75   $ 303,317      $ 0   

D. Scott Laverty

  Executive Vice President, Chief Information Officer     75   $ 266,724      $ 0   

Performance goals for each component of the award are established at the beginning of the fiscal year. At the end of the fiscal year, a payout factor is calculated for each component. In each case, the factor can range from 0% to 200% of the target bonus opportunity. The payout factors are based on the Company’s actual results in relation to its goals for sales and operating profit that were set at the beginning of the fiscal year. For this purpose, operating profit/(loss) for 2013 is defined as operating loss excluding qualified pension expense and restructuring and management charges. There is no payout if the target goals are not achieved.

The final payout is determined pursuant to the following calculation:

Total Payout = (50% × target bonus opportunity x Company Sales Payout Factor) + (50% × target bonus opportunity × Company Operating Profit Payout Factor).

Set forth below are the 2013 payout factors for the Company sales and operating profit components of the annual cash bonus award.

 

     Sales      Operating Profit  
     Results
Against
Plan
     Payout
Percent
     Results
Against
Plan
     Payout
Percent
 

Maximum

     112.0%         200.0%         414.0%         200.0%   
     109.0%         175.0%         335.5%         175.0%   
     106.0%         150.0%         257.0%         150.0%   
     103.0%         125.0%         178.5%         125.0%   

Target/Threshold

     100.0%         100.0%         100.0%         100.0%   

 

 

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Note: The payout percentage is interpolated on a straight-line basis for points in between those shown on the matrices.

For 2013, the Company’s performance was:

 

Measure

   Plan
(in millions)
    Actual
(in millions)
 

Sales

   $   12,872      $   11,859   

Operating Profit

   $ (106   $ (1,244

The Company’s actual sales were $11,859 million and the Company’s operating loss for purposes of the annual cash bonus plan was $(1,244) million. Based on the Company’s performance, none of the named executive officers received an annual cash bonus award during fiscal 2013. In June 2013, Mr. Laverty received a $50,000 bonus when he assumed additional responsibilities as interim Chief Information Officer. Mr. Laverty must reimburse the Company for a pro-rata portion of the award if he voluntarily terminates his employment without good reason or if we terminate his employment for cause prior to June 15, 2014. In January 2014, Ms. Dhillon received a $250,000 individual performance award under the Management Incentive Compensation Program in recognition of her significant contributions to the Company over the past year. The amount of the award was less than 50% of her target incentive opportunity award for 2013. Ms. Dhillon must reimburse the Company for a pro-rata portion of the award if she voluntarily terminates her employment without good reason or if we terminate her employment for cause prior to January 20, 2015.

Long-Term Incentive Awards.  Long-term incentive awards are generally made under our 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan. This plan provides equity-based awards to eligible associates, including the named executive officers, other Company officers, and senior management associates. Generally, whether an associate is granted an award and the size of the award granted are functions of the particular associate’s position, performance, and potential.

For 2013, annual long-term incentive awards for officers included performance-based restricted stock unit awards and non-qualified stock options. Half of their annual equity dollar value was delivered in the form of performance-based restricted stock units and half in stock options. The Committee believed this split would best balance the long-term focus on stockholder value creation and our compensation objective of retaining our leadership team through the turnaround.

The potential number of long-term incentive awards for each participant was based on a predefined target “equity dollar value” for the participant. The target equity dollar value is determined by position, taking into consideration competitive market data for comparable positions at companies in our peer group and the Company’s overall equity plan budget for the year.

The equity dollar value that a participant receives at grant is based on the participant’s role and future potential. Mr. Ullman was not employed by the Company at the time of the 2013 annual grant. The 2013 equity values for the other named executive officers were: Mr. Hannah, $1,750,000; Ms. Dhillon, $2,000,000; Ms. Evanson, $700,000 and Mr. Laverty, $350,000. Ms. Evanson’s equity dollar value represents the annual equity award approved in March 2013 plus a supplemental equity grant made in connection with her promotion in April 2013. Mr. Laverty’s equity dollar value reflects his position with the Company in March 2013.

Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units.  Performance-based restricted stock units were granted in April 2013 to reward Company performance (based on earnings/(loss) per share). The number of units granted was a target award that could increase or decrease based on the extent to which the Company achieved the performance measure established by the Committee. The performance measure was not met and none of the performance-based restricted stock units were earned.

 

 

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The performance cycle for these awards is the same as our fiscal year. The performance measure was set at the beginning of our performance cycle. At the end of the performance cycle, the percent of the target award earned was determined pursuant to a payout matrix that the Committee established. Once the performance cycle ends, the actual units earned are then subject to an additional two-year cliff vesting requirement, which means that the participant must remain continuously employed with the Company before the participant vests in any of the units. Upon vesting, the units are paid out in shares of JCPenney common stock.

The payout matrix sets forth a range of payout percentages relative to the Company’s actual results for the fiscal year. For fiscal 2013, the performance measure was earnings per share (defined as diluted per common share income/(loss) from continuing operations, excluding qualified pension expense and restructuring and management charges). The Company views EPS as the metric most aligned with stockholders and has historically used it as the metric in performance-based restricted stock unit plans. The payout percentages under the payout matrix ranged from 0% to 200%. For participants to receive 100% of the target award for 2013, the Company had to limit its loss per share to $(1.22) or less for the fiscal year and to receive the maximum payout of 200% of the target award, the Company had to limit its loss per share to $(0.52) or less. If the Company experienced a loss per share greater than the target earnings/(loss) per share performance, then participants would receive 0%.

 

     Earnings Per Share  
     Results
Against
Plan
    Payout
Percent
 

Maximum

     157.0     200.0
     142.8     175.0
     128.5     150.0
     114.3     125.0

Target/Threshold

     100.0     100.0

Note: The payout percentage is interpolated on a straight-line basis for points in between those shown on the matrix.

Fiscal 2013 loss per share for purposes of the performance-based restricted stock unit awards was $(4.64), which generated no payout under the performance-based restricted stock unit program.

Stock Options.  Stock options are awarded with an exercise price equal to the closing price of JCPenney common stock on the date of grant. Accordingly, stock options have value to the recipient only if the market price of the common stock increases above the exercise price after the date of grant. At the end of fiscal 2013, the options were “underwater” because the exercise price was greater than the market price. The stock options generally vest ratably (one-third per year) over a three-year period provided that the participant remains continuously employed with the Company during that time. They generally cannot be exercised more than ten years after the date of grant. The stock option awards are intended to align the participants’ interests with those of our stockholders.

For purposes of determining the number of stock options to be granted, we divided 50% of the equity dollar value the participant is eligible to receive as a long-term incentive award by the fair value of a stock option on the date of grant. Fair value is calculated pursuant to a binomial lattice model, which is the same model used for purposes of measuring compensation expense for stock options in the Company’s financial statements. The fair value of the 2013 annual stock option grants was $7.07, which equaled 49% of the then-current common stock price of $14.43.

For equity awards outstanding for each of the named executive officers as of the end of fiscal 2013, see the Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End table. Actual awards vesting, earned or exercised during the fiscal year are presented in the Option Exercises and Stock Vested table.

 

 

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Fall Incentive Plan.  In July 2013, the Committee approved a supplemental, performance-based equity program to incentivize officers to achieve critical back-to-school and holiday season goals. The Fall Incentive Plan provided officers the opportunity to earn cash-settled performance-based restricted stock units based on the Company’s adjusted operating profit measure, defined as operating profit plus depreciation, rent/real estate tax, real estate and other (impairments), supplemental pension and incentive compensation expenses, which focused on the portion of operating profit that is controllable by management. The performance measure was set at the beginning of the performance cycle, which was the beginning of the third fiscal quarter of 2013. At the end of the fiscal year, the percent of the target award earned was determined pursuant to a payout matrix that the Committee established. The performance measure was not met and none of the performance-based restricted stock units were earned.

The number of performance-based restricted stock units granted was a target award which could increase or decrease based on the extent to which the Company achieved the performance measurement established by the Committee. The number of units granted to each officer was designed to equal the target opportunity divided by the starting stock price of $18.00 (approximately the average share price over the thirty trading days ending June 30, 2013). The target opportunity was set by officer level and designed to be approximately 50% of average base salary. At the time of the Fall Incentive Plan, Ms. Dhillon, Ms. Evanson and Mr. Hannah were Executive Vice Presidents and received a target opportunity equal to $325,000, and Mr. Laverty was a Senior Vice President and received a target opportunity equal to $200,000.

Earned units, if any, would be settled in cash based on the stock price at the end of the performance period, up to a maximum stock price of $25.00. The ending share price would be the average of the thirty trading days ending on February 1, 2014.

The payout matrix sets forth a range of payout percentages relative to the adjusted operating profit ranging from 0% to 200%. For participants to receive 100% of the target number of units, the adjusted operating profit had to be at least $417 million and to receive the maximum payout of 200%, the adjusted operating profit had to be at least $626 million. To receive any units, the adjusted operating profit had to be at least $334 million.

The adjusted operating profit for purposes of the Fall Incentive Plan was $94 million, which generated no payout.

January Award.  In January 2014, the Committee approved an award of performance-based restricted stock units valued at $500,000 to Ms. Dhillon under the 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan in recognition of her significant contributions to the Company during the past year and the importance of her participation in our critical turnaround efforts. If the units are earned, they will be paid in four equal installments over two years. The performance measure was set at the beginning of the performance cycle, which was the beginning of the first fiscal quarter of 2014, and focused on gross profit for the performance cycle, which is the first and second fiscal quarters of 2014. Once the performance cycle ends, the actual units earned are then subject to additional vesting requirements. Upon vesting, the units are paid out in shares of JCPenney common stock.

Other Compensation Program Elements

In addition to the three principal components of our compensation program, we also offer the following to our executive officers, to help us attract and retain the best people in retail:

 

    Retirement benefits;
    Health and welfare benefits, including medical and dental benefits, paid time off, and group term life insurance benefits;
    Termination arrangements; and
    Perquisites.

 

 

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Retirement Benefits.  As with the principal components of our compensation program, our retirement benefits are intended to provide an industry competitive level of benefits.

The principal retirement benefits that we currently offer to our associates are our defined contribution 401(k) plan (Savings Plan) and, for associates earning more than the IRS compensation limit for qualified plans, our non-qualified defined contribution plan (Mirror Savings Plan). Both the Savings Plan and Mirror Savings Plan offer eligible associates the opportunity to defer a portion of their base salary and annual cash bonus compensation as a means of saving for retirement.

The Savings Plan includes a non-contributory retirement account in which such participants receive a Company contribution in an amount equal to 2% of the participant’s annual pay after one year of service. The Mirror Savings Plan has a similar account with respect to compensation in excess of the IRS compensation limit for qualified plans. Participating associates are fully vested in this Company contribution after three years. Ms. Dhillon, Ms. Evanson and Messrs. Hannah, Laverty and Ullman are eligible to participate in this retirement account provision of the Savings Plan and Mirror Savings Plan.

The Mirror Savings Plan is discussed in more detail in the narrative following the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation table.

Health and Welfare Benefits.  Our executive officers are entitled to participate in active associates’ health and welfare benefit plans, including paid time off, medical, dental, group term life insurance, long-term care insurance, and disability insurance, on the same terms and conditions as those made available to associates generally. The Company also provides a retiree life insurance benefit in which retirees can enroll in group term life insurance at group rates. We provide these benefits as part of a competitive package of health and welfare benefits.

Termination Arrangements.  We do not have employment agreements with our executive officers; however, in order to attract and retain top retail talent, we recognize the need to provide protection to our executives in the event of termination of employment without cause or following a change in control of the Company. Accordingly, we have put in place separate arrangements consisting of individual Termination Pay Agreements and a Change in Control Plan to address termination situations not precipitated by the conduct of the executive officer.

The Termination Pay Agreement provides severance benefits to the executive in exchange for the executive’s agreement to comply with certain restrictive covenants. The benefits payable under the Termination Pay Agreement are not available if the executive receives the benefits under the Change in Control Plan. Mr. Ullman has elected not to enter into a Termination Pay Agreement. All of our other named executive officers are party to a Termination Pay Agreement that provides for vesting of all long-term incentive stock awards and stock options in addition to severance benefits. Beginning in December 2013, the Company’s standard form of Termination Pay Agreement permits the full vesting of inducement equity awards granted in connection with an executive’s commencement of employment and limits the vesting of all other equity awards to a pro-rated portion of long-term incentive stock awards and stock options reflecting the executive’s length of employment during the vesting and/or performance period, as applicable. During 2013, Messrs. Kramer and Sweeney received severance benefits in accordance with their respective Termination Pay Agreement. We agreed to reduce the amount of severance payable to Mr. Kramer under the terms of his agreement by $1,000,000. Mr. Johnson was not party to a Termination Pay Agreement and Mr. Walker voluntarily resigned so they did not receive any severance benefits.

In January 2011, the Board of Directors approved the 2011 Change in Control Plan (2011 Change in Control Plan), which is applicable to executives who became eligible for benefits under the change of control plan after January 2011. The 2011 Change in Control Plan provides benefits if the executive’s employment is involuntarily terminated within two years following a change in control of the Company and that cash severance benefits will

 

 

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not exceed 2.99 times the sum of base salary and target bonus (the severance benefits limitation). A change of control is defined as (i) the acquisition by any person, entity or group of 30% or more of the Company’s outstanding common stock, (ii) the replacement of a majority of the Board of Directors, (iii) a reorganization, merger or consolidation, or the sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, subject to certain exceptions, or (iv) a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company. Ms. Evanson and Messrs. Hannah and Laverty participate in the 2011 Change in Control Plan. The 2009 Change in Control Plan (2009 Change in Control Plan) is applicable to senior executive officers who became eligible for benefits under the change of control plan after October 2008 and prior to 2011 and is substantially similar to the 2011 Change in Control Plan except that a change in control is defined as the acquisition of 20% or more of the Company’s outstanding common stock. Ms. Dhillon participates in the 2009 Change in Control Plan.

Neither of the 2009 Change in Control Plan nor the 2011 Change in Control Plan provides for the payment of excise tax gross-ups to executive officers. The 2009 Change in Control Plan, the 2011 Change in Control Plan and the Executive Termination Pay Agreement are described in more detail in “Potential Payments and Benefits on Termination of Employment.”

Perquisites.  We provide certain benefits to enable our executives to devote their energy and attention to the Company.

For security purposes, the Board of Directors requires the CEO to participate in a Key Associate Protection Program (KAPP), which is intended to safeguard the CEO and members of his immediate family. The KAPP is a program approved by the Company’s Board of Directors as a result of recommendations contained in an independent, third-party security study.

In fiscal 2013, we provided the following benefits to our executives:

Company Aircraft.  In addition, as part of KAPP, the CEO is required to use Company aircraft for all business and personal travel. Moreover, the CEO has a physical condition that significantly limits his mobility. As a result, use of Company aircraft for business and personal travel increases his effectiveness and flexibility in performing his duties.

The Company does not generally make Company aircraft available for non-Company business use by Company associates, other than to the CEO as recommended by the KAPP program. However, in an emergency and/or other unusual circumstance, a Company associate may be permitted to travel on the Company aircraft for personal reasons, provided the travel is approved by the CEO or by the senior most member of the management team with responsibility for the Aviation Department (currently, Ms. Dhillon). These amounts are reflected as All Other Compensation to the named executive officer in the Summary Compensation Table below. The Company does not provide a tax gross-up to its employees, including the CEO, on income imputed for personal use of Company aircraft.

For total compensation purposes, we calculate the aggregate incremental cost to the Company of personal use of the Company aircraft by determining the incremental nautical miles flown, including any “deadhead” legs, and multiplying that number by the cost to the Company per nautical mile. A nautical mile is a unit of length used for maritime and aviation purposes. The cost per nautical mile is based on published industry data.

The cost per nautical mile excludes fixed costs which do not change based on usage, such as pilots’ or other employees’ salaries, purchase costs of the aircraft, or non-trip-related hangar expenses. It is derived from the aircraft’s variable operating costs, which include:

 

    Aircraft fuel expenses;
    Supplies and catering;
    Crew travel expenses;
    Landing and parking expenses; and
    Aircraft maintenance and external labor.

 

 

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Annual Health Exam.  In 2013, the named executive officers were eligible to receive an allowance of up to $3,000 for an annual health exam. The Company does not provide a tax gross-up on this benefit. We value the benefit based on the actual charges incurred by the Company for the services provided, which is reflected as All Other Compensation in the Summary Compensation Table below.

Financial Counseling.  During the first quarter of fiscal 2013, the named executive officers were eligible to receive a taxable allowance of up to $14,500 for a newly eligible participant or up to $10,000 for an existing participant, for financial counseling services, which may include tax preparation and estate planning services. This benefit was discontinued in April 2013. The Company does not provide a tax gross-up on this benefit. We value the benefit based on the actual charges incurred by the Company for the services provided, which is reflected as All Other Compensation in the Summary Compensation Table below.

Relocation.  The Company provides standard relocation benefits to all employees. During 2013, Messrs. Hannah and Sweeney did not maintain a residence near the Company’s home office in Texas. The Company agreed to provide certain additional benefits to each of Messrs. Hannah and Sweeney for his commuting and temporary housing expenses. In connection with the commencement of his employment in 2012, the Company also agreed to reimburse Mr. Hannah for the loss on the sale of a home that was not his primary residence. Mr. Hannah agreed to repay the Company a pro-rated amount of such reimbursed expenses if, within twelve months of the payment date, he voluntarily terminated his employment for any reason or the Company terminated his employment for cause. The Company does not routinely reimburse executives for the loss on the sale of a home that is not a primary residence. These amounts are reflected as All Other Compensation for Messrs. Hannah and Sweeney in the Summary Compensation Table below.

Equity Award Grant Policy

The Committee has adopted a Policy Statement which sets forth its practices regarding the timing of, and approval process for, equity awards. In certain cases, the Committee may waive such policy.

 

Grant

  

Grant Date

Annual Grant

   Third full trading date after Committee approval.

Off-cycle grants other than to new hires

   Third full trading date following the public release of earnings for the fiscal quarter in which the award is approved.

Off-cycle grants for new hires

   Third full trading date following the public release of earnings for the later of the fiscal quarter in which (1) the award is approved or (2) the associate’s employment with the Company begins.

The Committee also adheres to the following approval policies in making equity awards to associates:

 

    Equity awards to the CEO must be approved by the independent directors of the Board.
    Equity awards to executive officers other than the CEO, including new hires, must be approved by the Committee.
    The aggregate annual grant of equity awards to associates must be approved by the Committee.
    The authority to approve equity awards to new hires who are not executive officers has been delegated by the Committee to the CEO.
    The authority to approve off-cycle equity awards to associates who are not executive officers has been delegated by the Committee to the CEO.

 

 

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Stock Ownership Goals

JCPenney strives to align pay with the long-term interests of stockholders. The Board of Directors has adopted formal stock ownership goals for senior executives of the Company. The stock ownership goals specify that, within a five-year period, executives should hold an amount of Company stock having a value of:

 

Role

  

Stock Ownership Requirement

Chief Executive Officer

   10x base salary

General Counsel or Chief Financial Officer

   5x base salary

Executive Vice President

   3x base salary

Senior Vice President

   1x base salary

In addition to directly owned stock, shares held in Company qualified and non-qualified savings plans and unvested time-based restricted stock units are included in calculating ownership levels. Unexercised stock options do not count toward the ownership goals. All of the named executive officers are on track to meet these goals.

Tax Implications of Our Compensation Policies 

Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (Code) places a limit of $1,000,000 on the amount of compensation that we may deduct in any given year with respect to the CEO and certain of our other most highly paid executive officers. There is an exception to the $1,000,000 limitation for performance-based compensation meeting certain requirements. Our stock option awards and performance-based restricted stock unit awards generally are performance-based compensation meeting those requirements and, as such, are typically fully deductible. Performance-based cash bonus compensation awards under our Management Incentive Compensation Program may also be tax deductible. Our annual base salary and time-based restricted stock units are generally subject to the Section 162(m) deduction limitations. To maintain flexibility in compensating executive officers in view of the overall objectives of our compensation program, the Committee has not adopted a policy requiring that all compensation be tax deductible.

Claw-Back Policy 

One of the objectives of our compensation program is to make a substantial portion of compensation dependent on the Company’s overall financial performance. In the event of a financial restatement arising out of the willful actions, including without limitation fraud or intentional misconduct, or the gross negligence of any participant in the Company’s compensation plans or programs, including without limitation, cash bonus and stock incentive plans, welfare plans, or deferred compensation plans, it is the Board’s policy that the Committee shall have the authority to determine the appropriate action to take, which may include requiring relinquishment (claw-back) of previously awarded equity-based incentive compensation and/or repayment of previously paid cash compensation to a participant under such plans and programs.

Prohibition on Hedging and Pledging of Company Stock

The Board considers it inappropriate for directors or executive officers to enter into speculative transactions in Company securities. The Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines prohibit directors and senior management from engaging in short sales, options trading, or other similar derivative transactions in Company securities, or hedging or monetization transactions, such as zero-cost collars and forward sale contracts, in which the individual continues to own the underlying security without the full risks and rewards of ownership. In addition, the Company’s directors and senior management may not purchase Company securities on margin, hold Company shares in a margin account or pledge Company shares as collateral for a loan because a margin sale or foreclosure sale may occur at a time when such director or officer is prohibited from trading under the Company’s insider trading policy.

 

 

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REPORT OF THE HUMAN RESOURCES AND COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

The Human Resources and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors assists the Board in discharging the Board’s responsibilities relating to compensation of the Company’s executives, reviews plans and proposals on management succession and major organizational or structural changes, and oversees the administration, financial and investment performance and operation of the Company’s retirement and welfare plans. Each member of the Committee is considered independent for purposes of applicable NYSE listing standards as well as the Standards for Determination of Director Independence. You can learn more about the Committee’s purpose, responsibilities, composition, and other details by reading the Human Resources and Compensation Committee’s charter, which is available online at www.jcp.com.

The Human Resources and Compensation Committee has reviewed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis and discussed the same with management. Based on our review and discussions with management, we recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2013 and the Company’s 2014 Proxy Statement. This report is submitted by the following independent directors, who comprise the Human Resources and Compensation Committee:

 

Kent B. Foster, Chair    R. Gerald Turner
Colleen C. Barrett    Ronald W. Tysoe
Stephen I. Sadove   

 

 

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SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

 

Name and
Principal Position

  Year     Salary
($)
    Bonus
($)
    Stock
Awards
($)(1)
    Option
Awards
($)(1)
    Non-
Equity

Incentive
Plan

Compensation
($)(2)
    Change in
Pension
Value and
Non-qualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)(3)
    All Other
Compensation
($)
    Total
($)
 

Myron E. Ullman, III*

    2013        810,606          0        0        0             (4)      1,582,024 (5)      2,392,630   

Chief Executive Officer

    2012        0          0        0        0             (6)           (7)      0   
    2011        1,489,583          11,400,007        3,600,006        1,875,000        857,205        15,339,521 (8)      34,561,322   

Kenneth H. Hannah

    2013        850,000          1,200,014        874,997        0        0        830,730 (9)      3,755,741   

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

    2012        624,621        2,000,000        2,499,994        0        0        0        130,976 (10)      5,255,591   

Janet L. Dhillon

    2013        700,000          1,825,004        1,000,002        250,000        0        50,815 (11)      3,825,821   

Executive Vice President,

    2012        675,000          1,999,997        0        0        0        39,531 (12)      2,714,528   

General Counsel and

Secretary

    2011        545,000          2,299,962        500,004        309,375        0        53,273 (13)      3,707,614   

Brynn L. Evanson

    2013        415,909          675,003        347,980        0        0        21,581 (14)      1,460,473   

Executive Vice President, Human Resources

                 

D. Scott Laverty

    2013        385,985        50,000        375,005        174,997        0        0        1,125 (15)      987,112   

Executive Vice President, Chief Information Officer

                 

Ronald B. Johnson*

    2013        250,000          0        0        0        0        408,921 (16)      658,921   

Former Chief

    2012        1,500,000          0        0        0        0        388,587 (17)      1,888,587   

Executive Officer

    2011        375,000          52,656,928 (18)      0        236,302        0        13,275 (19)      53,281,505   

Michael W. Kramer*

    2013        204,545          0        0        0        0        2,143,514 (20)      2,348,059   

Former Chief

    2012        1,000,000          0        0        0        0        38,601 (21)      1,038,601   

Operating Officer

    2011        159,091        4,000,000        29,140,009 (22)      0        71,507        0        0        33,370,607   

Mark R. Sweeney*

    2013        321,970          375,005 (23)      174,997        0        0        991,133 (24)      1,863,105   

Former Senior Vice President and Controller

    2012        204,167        450,000        250,003        531,779        0        0        24,478 (25)      1,460,427   

 

* Mr. Johnson left the Company on April 8, 2013. Mr. Kramer left the Company on April 17, 2013. Mr. Sweeney left the Company on September 20, 2013. Mr. Ullman joined the Company as Chief Executive Officer on April 8, 2013.
(1) See Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of J. C. Penney Company, Inc. and subsidiaries, as included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 1, 2014, for a discussion of the assumptions underlying the valuation of stock options. The value of stock awards is based on the market price of JCPenney common stock on the date of grant.
(2) The amounts shown in this column reflect payments made under the J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc. Management Incentive Compensation Program.
(3) The amounts shown in this column for 2013 reflect the aggregate change in the actuarial present value from January 31, 2013 to January 31, 2014 (the pension plan measurement date used for financial statement purposes) of the named executive officer’s accumulated benefit under all defined benefit plans in which he participates. The Company does not provide above-market or preferential earnings on nonqualified deferred compensation.
(4) The change in value for Mr. Ullman in fiscal 2013 was $(603,893) for the Pension Plan and the Benefit Restoration Plan.
(5) The amounts shown in this column for Mr. Ullman includes Company contributions or allocations to Mr. Ullman’s account in the Savings Plan for fiscal 2013 of $9,582. In addition, the amounts shown reflect Company matching charitable contributions in the amount of $10,000 on behalf of Mr. Ullman under the Directors’ Matching Fund in fiscal 2013 and a payment of $648,954 made under the Benefit Restoration Plan. The amounts further include $913,488 for personal use of corporate aircraft. For security purposes, the CEO participates in a Key Associate Protection Program, which requires the CEO to use Company aircraft for all business and personal travel. For a discussion of the valuation of perquisites, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.”
(6) The change in value for Mr. Ullman in fiscal 2012 was $(579,386) for the Pension Plan and the Benefit Restoration Plan.
(7) Mr. Ullman received two installment payments totaling $84,186 from the Mirror Savings Plan when he was not employed by the Company. Mr. Ullman received a payment of $655,124 made under the Benefit Restoration Plan in fiscal 2012 when he was not employed by the Company.
(8) The amount shown in this column for Mr. Ullman includes Company contributions or allocations to Mr. Ullman’s account in the Savings Plan and Mirror Savings Plan for fiscal 2011 of $6,909 and $44,775, respectively. In addition, the amount shown reflects Company matching charitable contributions in the amount of $10,000 on behalf of Mr. Ullman under the Directors’ Matching Fund in fiscal 2011. The amount shown further includes the following payments under the Transition Services Agreement between the Company and Mr. Ullman dated August 22, 2011: $10,100,000 transition services payment, $4,750,066 for the fair value of all outstanding stock options that would otherwise have been forfeited, and $43,269 for accrued but unpaid vacation. In addition, the amounts shown include the value of the following perquisites received by Mr. Ullman during fiscal 2011: personal use of corporate aircraft, $362,682; ground transportation, $8,208; home security systems, $487; annual health exam services, $3,000; and financial counseling services, $10,125.
(9) The amount shown in this column for Mr. Hannah includes Company contributions or allocations to Mr. Hannah’s account in the Savings Plan for fiscal 2013 of $2,125. The amount shown also includes the value of the following perquisites received by Mr. Hannah during fiscal 2013: relocation benefits, $783,824; personal use of corporate aircraft, $41,179 and financial counseling services, $3,602. During 2013, Mr. Hannah received certain additional relocation benefits agreed upon in connection with the commencement of his employment in 2012. For a discussion of the valuation of perquisites, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.”

 

 

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(10) The amount shown in this column for Mr. Hannah includes the value of the following perquisites received by Mr. Hannah in fiscal 2012: relocation benefits, $118,490 and financial counseling services, $12,486.
(11) The amount shown in this column for Ms. Dhillon includes Company contributions or allocations to Ms. Dhillon’s account in the Savings Plan and Mirror Savings Plan for fiscal 2013 of $18,700 and $29,238, respectively, and $2,877 for financial counseling services.
(12) The amount shown in this column for Ms. Dhillon includes Company contributions or allocations to Ms. Dhillon’s account in the Savings Plan and Mirror Savings Plan for fiscal 2012 of $7,875 and $21,656, respectively, and $10,000 for financial counseling services.
(13) The amount shown in this column for Ms. Dhillon includes Company contributions or allocations to Ms. Dhillon’s account in the Savings Plan and Mirror Savings Plan for fiscal 2011 of $12,300 and $30,848, respectively, and $10,125 for financial counseling services.
(14) The amount shown in this column for Ms. Evanson includes Company contributions or allocations to Ms. Evanson’s account in the Savings Plan and Mirror Savings Plan for fiscal 2013 of $12,543 and $6,348, respectively, and $2,690 for financial counseling services.
(15) The amount shown in this column for Mr. Laverty includes Company contributions or allocations to Mr. Laverty’s account in the Savings Plan for fiscal 2013 of $1,125.
(16) The amount shown in this column for Mr. Johnson includes $408,921 for personal use of corporate aircraft in fiscal 2013. For security purposes, the CEO participates in a Key Associate Protection Program, which requires the CEO to use Company aircraft for all business and personal travel.
(17) The amount shown in this column for Mr. Johnson includes Company contributions or allocations to Mr. Johnson’s account in the Savings Plan and Mirror Savings Plan for fiscal 2012 of $3,525 and $7,725, respectively. In addition, the amounts shown include the value of the following perquisites received by Mr. Johnson: personal use of corporate aircraft, $344,213; home security systems, $29,889; and information technology services, $3,235.
(18) The amount shown in this column for Mr. Johnson reflects an inducement equity award of 1,660,578 restricted stock units granted on November 1, 2011 in connection with the commencement of his employment. The restricted stock units vested on January 27, 2012 and replaced a portion of the value of equity awards granted by Mr. Johnson’s former employer that were scheduled to vest in early 2012 (the portion replaced was less than two-thirds).
(19) The amount shown in this column for Mr. Johnson includes Company contributions or allocations to Mr. Johnson’s account in the Mirror Savings Plan for fiscal 2011 of $90. The amount shown also includes $13,185 for personal use of corporate aircraft.
(20) The amount shown in this column for Mr. Kramer includes the following payments under the Termination Pay Agreement that he entered into in connection with the commencement of his employment: $1,850,000 severance payment representing 18 months of base pay plus incentive compensation at target less a $1,000,000 reduction agreed upon at the time of his departure, $182,466 partial year incentive compensation payment at target, $28,356 for medical, dental and life insurance, $25,000 for financial counseling and outplacement services and $57,692 for accrued but unpaid vacation.
(21) The amount shown in this column for Mr. Kramer includes Company contributions or allocations to Mr. Kramer’s account in the Savings Plan for fiscal 2012 of $1,687, $31,888 in relocation benefits and $5,026 for personal use of corporate aircraft.
(22) The amount shown in this column for Mr. Kramer reflects an inducement equity award of 750,000 restricted stock units granted on December 5, 2011 in connection with the commencement of his employment and an inducement equity award of 119,332 restricted stock units granted on December 5, 2011 in relinquishment of the value of equity awards granted by his previous employer.
(23) The amount shown in this column for Mr. Sweeney reflects performance-based restricted stock units with a value of $199,998 granted under the Fall Incentive Plan. Pursuant to the Termination Pay Agreement that he entered into in connection with the commencement of his employment, Mr. Sweeney will receive a $22,154 partial year payment under the Fall Incentive Plan at target.
(24) The amount shown in this column for Mr. Sweeney includes the following payments under the Termination Pay Agreement that he entered into in connection with the commencement of his employment: $750,000 severance payment representing 12 months of base pay plus incentive compensation at target, $157,534 partial year incentive compensation payment at target, $16,179 for medical, dental and life insurance, $15,000 for financial counseling and outplacement services and $27,404 for accrued but unpaid vacation. The amounts also reflect $17,560 in relocation benefits and $7,456 for financial counseling services.
(25) The amount shown in this column for Mr. Sweeney includes $24,478 in relocation benefits.

 

 

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Table of Contents

GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS FOR FISCAL 2013

 

    Grant
Date(1)
    Date of
Committee
Approval
   

 

Estimated Future Payouts

Under Non-Equity
Incentive Plan Awards(2)

    Estimated Future Payouts
Under Equity
Incentive Plan Awards(3)
    All Other
Stock
Awards:
Number of
Shares of
Stock or
Units
(#)
  All Other
Option
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options
(#)(4)
    Exercise
or Base
Price of
Option
Awards
($/share)
    Grant
Date Fair
Value of
Stock
and
Options
Awards
($)(5)
 
      Thres-
hold
($)
    Target
($)
    Maximum
($)
    Thres-
hold
(#)
    Target
(#)
    Maximum
(#)
         

Myron E. Ullman, III

    N/A                         

Chief Executive Officer

                       

Kenneth H. Hannah

    4/3/2013        3/29/2013              0        60,638        121,276              875,006   

Executive Vice President

    4/3/2013        3/29/2013                      123,762        14.43        874,997   

and Chief Financial

    8/22/2013        7/22/2013              9,028        18,056        36,112              325,008   

Officer

    N/A          0        680,000        1,360,000                 

Janet L. Dhillon

    4/3/2013        3/29/2013              0        69,300        138,600              999,999   

Executive Vice President,

    4/3/2013        3/29/2013                      141,443        14.43        1,000,002   

General Counsel and

    8/22/2013        7/22/2013              9,028        18,056        36,112              325,008   

Secretary

    1/23/2014        1/20/2014              0        73,099        73,099              499,997   
    N/A            250,000                   
    N/A          0        525,000        1,050,000                 

Brynn L. Evanson

    4/3/2013        3/29/2013              0        9,702        19,404              140,000   

Executive Vice President,

    4/3/2013        3/29/2013                      19,802        14.43        140,000   

Human Resources

    5/21/2013        4/19/2013              0        11,064        22,128              209,995   
    5/21/2013        4/19/2013                      22,460        18.98        207,980   
    8/22/2013        7/22/2013              9,028        18,056        36,112              325,008   
    N/A          0        303,317        606,634                 

D. Scott Laverty

    4/3/2013        3/29/2013              0        12,128        24,256              175,007   

Executive Vice President,

    4/3/2013        3/29/2013                      24,752        14.43        174,997   

Chief Information Officer

    8/22/2013        7/22/2013              5,555        11,111        22,222              199,998   
    N/A          0        266,724        533,448                 

Ronald B. Johnson

    N/A          0        334,821        669,642                 

Former Chief Executive

                       

Officer

                       

Michael W. Kramer

    N/A          0        182,466        364,932                 

Former Chief Operating

                       

Officer

                       

Mark R. Sweeney

    4/3/2013        3/29/2013              0        12,128        24,256              175,007   

Former Senior Vice

    4/3/2013        3/29/2013                      24,752        14.43        174,997   

President and Controller

    8/22/2013        7/22/2013              5,555        11,111        22,222              199,998   
    N/A          0        157,534        315,068                 

 

(1) The Human Resources and Compensation Committee of the Board has adopted a policy that the grant date for annual grants of equity awards to associates shall be the third full trading date following approval of the grant by the Committee.
(2) Grants of awards under the J.C.Penney Corporation, Inc. Management Incentive Compensation Program.
(3) Grants of performance-based restricted stock units under the Company’s 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan.
(4) Grants of stock options under the Company’s 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan.
(5) The grant date value is calculated in accordance with applicable FASB guidance.

 

 

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OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END 2013

 

    Option Awards     Stock Awards  

Name

  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable
    Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable
    Option
Exercise
Price ($)
    Option
Expiration
Date
    Number of
Shares or
Units of
Stock that
Have Not
Vested (#)
    Market
Value of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested ($)(1)
    Equity Plan
Incentive
Awards:
Number of
Unearned
Shares, Units
or Other
Rights that
Have Not
Vested (#)
    Equity Plan
Incentive
Awards:
Market or
Payout
Value of
Unearned
Shares,
Units or
Other
Rights that
Have Not
Vested ($)
 

Myron E. Ullman, III

               

Chief Executive Officer

               

2004

    0        0        N/A        N/A        0        0        0        0   

2005

    0        0        N/A        N/A        0        0        0        0   

2006

    187,735        0        60.50        3/21/2016        0        0        0        0   

2007

    201,511        0        78.50        1/27/2017        0        0        0        0   

2008

    287,770        0        39.78        1/27/2017        0        0        0        0   

2009

    0        0        N/A        N/A        0        0        0        0   

2010

    110,135        0        30.72        1/27/2017        0        0        0        0   

2011

    91,625        0        36.58        1/27/2017        0        0        0        0   

2012

    0        0        N/A        N/A        0        0        0        0   

2013

    0        0        N/A        N/A        0        0        0        0   

Kenneth H. Hannah

               

Executive Vice
President and
Chief Financial Officer

               

2012

    0        0        N/A        N/A        108,790 (2)      644,037        0        0   

2013

    0        123,762        14.43        4/2/2023        0        0        0        0   

Janet L. Dhillon

               

Executive Vice President,

               

General Counsel and Secretary

               

2009

    63,796        0        16.09        3/15/2019        0        0        0        0   

2010

    52,544        0        30.72        3/15/2020        0        0        0        0   

2011

    29,240        14,620        36.58        3/14/2021        2,343 (3)      13,871        0        0   

2012

    0        0            53,447 (4)      316,406        0        0   

2013

    0        141,443        14.43        4/2/2023        0        0        73,099 (5)      432,746   

Brynn L. Evanson

               

Executive Vice President,

               

Human Resources

               

2009

    0        0        N/A        N/A        0        0        0        0   

2010

    2,765        0        30.72        3/15/2020        0        0        0        0   

2011

    3,801        1,901        36.58        3/14/2021        2,925 (6)      17,316        0        0   

2012

    3,567        7,135        37.63        3/12/2022        3,340 (7)      19,773        0        0   

2013

    0        19,802        14.43        4/2/2023        0        0        0        0   

2013

    0        22,460        18.98        5/20/2023        0        0        0        0   

D. Scott Laverty

               

Executive Vice President,

               

Chief Information Officer

               

2011

    0        0        N/A        N/A        0        0        0        0   

2012

    5,093        10,188        17.40        11/12/2022        7,184 (8)      42,529        0        0   

2013

    0        24,752        14.43        4/2/2023        0        0        0        0   

Ronald B. Johnson

               

Former Chief Executive Officer

               

2011

    0        0        N/A        N/A        0        0        0        0   

2012

    0        0        N/A        N/A        0        0        0        0   

2013

    0        0        N/A        N/A        0        0        0        0   

 

 

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Table of Contents
    Option Awards     Stock Awards  

Name

  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable
    Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable
    Option
Exercise
Price ($)
    Option
Expiration
Date
    Number of
Shares or
Units of
Stock that
Have Not
Vested (#)
    Market
Value of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested ($)(1)
    Equity Plan
Incentive
Awards:
Number of
Unearned
Shares, Units
or Other
Rights that
Have Not
Vested (#)
    Equity Plan
Incentive
Awards:
Market or
Payout
Value of
Unearned
Shares,
Units or
Other
Rights that
Have Not
Vested ($)
 

Michael W. Kramer

               

Former Chief Operating Officer

               

2011

    0        0        N/A        N/A        0        0        0        0   

2012

    0        0        N/A        N/A        0        0        0        0   

2013

    0        0        N/A        N/A        0        0        0        0   

Mark R. Sweeney

               

Former Senior Vice President and Controller

               

2012

    9,338        0        17.40        9/20/2014        0        0        0        0   

2013

    4,125        0        14.43        9/20/2014        0        0        0        0   

 

(1) Based on the closing market price of JCPenney common stock on January 31, 2014, which was $5.92.
(2) Represents an award of 108,790 time-based restricted stock units granted to Mr. Hannah on August 14, 2012, which vest on August 14, 2015.
(3) Represents a portion of an award of 6,834 time-based restricted stock units granted to Ms. Dhillon on March 15, 2011, which vests one-third on March 15, 2012, March 15, 2013 and March 15, 2014. The number of units shown includes dividend equivalents paid on this award.
(4) Represents an award of 53,149 time-based restricted stock units granted to Ms. Dhillon on March 13, 2012, which vest on March 13, 2015. The number of units shown includes dividend equivalents paid on this award.
(5) Represents an award of 73,099 performance-based restricted stock units granted to Ms. Dhillon on January 23, 2014, which vest in four equal semi-installments over two years beginning after the second fiscal quarter of 2014 if the performance measure is achieved.
(6) Represents a portion of an award of 888 time-based restricted stock units granted to Ms. Evanson on March 15, 2011, which vests one-third on March 15, 2012, March 15, 2013 and March 15, 2014, and a portion of an award of 7,781 time-based restricted stock units granted to Ms. Evanson on November 16, 2011, which vests one-third on November 11, 2012, November 11, 2013 and November 11, 2014. The number of units shown includes dividend equivalents paid on these awards.
(7) Represents an award of 3,322 time-based restricted stock units granted to Ms. Evanson on March 13, 2012, which vest on March 13, 2015. The number of units shown includes dividend equivalents paid on this award.
(8) Represents an award of 7,184 time-based restricted stock units granted to Mr. Laverty on November 13, 2012, which vest on November 13, 2015.

 

 

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OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED FOR FISCAL 2013

 

     Option Awards      Stock Awards  

Name

   Number of
Shares
Acquired on
Exercise (#)
     Value Realized
on
Exercise ($)
     Number of
Shares
Acquired on
Vesting (#)
    Value Realized
on
Vesting ($)
 

Myron E. Ullman, III

     0         0         0        0   

Chief Executive Officer

     0         0         0        0   

Kenneth H. Hannah

     0         0         0        0   

Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer

          
          

Janet L. Dhillon

     0         0         4,082 (1)      63,189 (2) 

Executive Vice President, General
Counsel and Secretary

           56,686 (3)      1,065,130 (4) 
           2,724 (5)      42,168 (2) 
           2,343 (6)      36,270 (2) 

Brynn L. Evanson

     0         0         1,531 (7)      34,402 (8) 

Executive Vice President,

Human Resources

           2,621 (9)      23,668 (10) 
           287 (5)      4,443 (2) 
           304 (6)      4,706 (2) 

D. Scott Laverty

     0         0         0        0   

Executive Vice President,
Chief Information Officer

          
          

Ronald B. Johnson

     0         0         0        0   

Former Chief Executive Officer

          

Michael W. Kramer

     0         0         172,760 (11)      2,936,920 (12) 

Former Chief Operating Officer

           80,499 (13)      1,368,483 (12) 

Mark R. Sweeney

     0         0         2,695 (14)      34,927 (15) 

Former Senior Vice President and
Controller

           4,390 (16)      56,894 (15) 
          

 

(1) Represents portion of 2010 performance-based restricted stock unit award that vested on March 16, 2013.
(2) Based on the closing market price of JCPenney common stock on March 15, 2013, which was $15.48.
(3) Represents 2011 time-based restricted stock unit award that vested on May 16, 2013.
(4) Based on the closing market price of JCPenney common stock on May 16, 2013, which was $18.79.
(5) Represents portion of 2010 time-based restricted stock unit award that vested on March 16, 2013.
(6) Represents portion of 2011 time-based restricted stock unit award that vested on March 15, 2013.
(7) Represents 2010 time-based restricted stock unit award that vested on February 23, 2013.
(8) Based on the closing market price of JCPenney common stock on February 22, 2013, which was $22.47.
(9) Represents portion of 2011 time-based restricted stock unit award that vested on November 16, 2013.
(10) Based on the closing market price of JCPenney common stock on November 15, 2013, which was $9.03.
(11) Represents portion of 2011 time-based restricted stock unit award that vested on April 26, 2013.
(12) Based on the closing market price of JCPenney common stock on April 26, 2013, which was $17.00.
(13) Represents portion of 2011 time-based restricted stock unit award that vested on April 26, 2013.
(14) Represents portion of 2013 performance-based restricted stock unit award that vested on September 20, 2013.
(15) Based on the closing market price of JCPenney common stock on September 20, 2013, which was $12.96.
(16) Represents portion of 2012 time-based restricted stock unit award that vested on September 20, 2013.

 

 

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PENSION BENEFITS

 

Name

  Plan Name   Number of Years
Credited Service
(#)(1)
    Present Value of
Accumulated Benefit
($)(2)
    Payments During
Last Fiscal Year
($)
 

Myron E. Ullman, III*

  Pension Plan     6.083        195,927        14,232   

Chief Executive Officer

  Benefit Restoration Plan     6.083        1,857,509        648,954   

Kenneth H. Hannah

  N/A      

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

       

Janet L. Dhillon

  N/A      

Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

       

Brynn L. Evanson

  N/A      

Executive Vice President, Human Resources

       

D. Scott Laverty

  N/A      

Executive Vice President, Chief Information Officer

       

Ronald B. Johnson

  N/A      

Former Chief Executive Officer

       

Michael W. Kramer

  N/A      

Former Chief Operating Officer

       

Mark R. Sweeney

  N/A      

Former Senior Vice President and Controller

       

 

* Mr. Ullman was the only named executive officer eligible for the Pension Plan or Benefit Restoration Plan.
(1) The number of years of credited service shown in the table is used to calculate the present value of the accumulated benefit. The number of years for Mr. Ullman reflects his retirement date of January 27, 2012.
(2) The lump sum present value of the accumulated benefit was computed based on the January 31, 2014 measurement date used in the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal year ended February 1, 2014. The assumptions used in calculating the accumulated benefit obligation are also derived from these financial statements and are incorporated herein by reference. The Pension Plan amount included in the table for Mr. Ullman is based on the present value of the benefit he is receiving under the plan. The amount for the Benefit Restoration Plan is based on the present value of Mr. Ullman’s remaining annual installments. Amounts are calculated as of the January 31, 2014 measurement date.

Pension Plan.  The Pension Plan is a tax qualified defined benefit plan intended to provide retirement income to all eligible associates. To be eligible to participate in the Pension Plan, an associate must:

 

    have been hired or rehired before January 1, 2007,
    be employed at least one year,
    have 1,000 hours of service, and
    be at least age 21.

To be vested in a Pension Plan benefit, a participant must be employed for at least five years or attain age 65.

 

 

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The normal retirement age under the Pension Plan is age 65. The normal retirement benefit formula in the Pension Plan is equal to:

 

    the average of the participant’s highest five consecutive full calendar years of pay (including salary and incentive compensation actually paid during that year), out of the last ten years of service (average final pay) times 0.75%, plus
    0.50% of the participant’s average final pay that exceeds the average of the Social Security taxable wage bases in effect for each calendar year during the 35 year period ending on December 31 of the year an associate reaches the Social Security retirement age, multiplied by
    the participant’s years of credited service up to 35 years.

Once a participant has at least 25 years of credited service, he or she is eligible for an additional Pension Plan retirement benefit. This additional benefit is equal to 0.25% of his or her average final pay times his or her years of credited service exceeding 25 years, up to a maximum of 10 years.

The above formula computes a benefit intended to be payable for the participant’s life. The primary form of benefit for a single participant is a single life annuity and for a married participant is a 50% qualified joint and survivor annuity. Other annuity benefit payment options are also available. A single life annuity provides a greater annual benefit amount paid over a shorter period of time than a 50% qualified joint and survivor annuity. All benefit payment option forms are actuarially equivalent. The Pension Plan permits vested participants and retirees to elect to receive a lump sum distribution of their entire vested benefit on termination, and will automatically distribute a terminated vested participant’s benefit if the participant’s monthly benefit amount is $100 or less or the present value of the participant’s benefit is $5000 or less.

Benefit Restoration Plan.  The Benefit Restoration Plan (BRP) is a non-qualified excess defined benefit plan that provides retirement income to eligible associates whose Pension Plan benefit is limited by Code limits on compensation ($255,000 for 2013 and $260,000 for 2014) or maximum annual benefits ($205,000 for 2013 and $210,000 for 2014).

The BRP uses the same eligibility, years of credited service, vesting, formula, early retirement reductions and retirement age criteria found in the Pension Plan, but without considering the Code imposed limits on a benefit payable under the Pension Plan. The excess benefit over the Code imposed limits in the Pension Plan is paid from the BRP.

The formula computes an age 65 benefit with payments beginning, for the named executive officers, six months after separation from service. The only form of benefit under the BRP is a five year annual installment option, which is not available under the Pension Plan. The five year installment option produces a higher annual payment than a single life annuity or a qualified joint and survivor annuity, but is actuarially equivalent to such payment forms.

If employment terminates for cause, all BRP benefits are forfeited.

The Company also maintains a Supplemental Retirement Program (SRP) for eligible associates hired on or before December 31, 1995. None of our current named executive officers participates in the SRP.

 

 

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NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION FOR FISCAL 2013

 

Name

   Executive
Contributions
in last FY
($)(1)
     Registrant
Contributions
in last FY
($)
     Aggregate
Earnings
in last FY
($)(2)
     Aggregate
Balance
at last FYE
($)(3)
 

Myron E. Ullman, III

     0         0         85,811         36,907   

Kenneth H. Hannah

     0         0         0         0   

Janet L. Dhillon

     29,600         29,238         55,136         363,866   

Brynn L. Evanson

     24,955         6,348         11,010         87,242   

D. Scott Laverty

     0         0         0         0   

Ronald B. Johnson

     17,392         0         14,194         109,806   

Michael W. Kramer

     0         0         0         0   

Mark R. Sweeney

     8,162         0         513         8,675   

 

(1) The amounts shown are included in the salary and incentive compensation numbers shown in the Summary Compensation Table.
(2) These amounts are not included in the Summary Compensation Table since they do not constitute above market interest or preferential earnings.
(3) The balance reported includes named executive officer contributions to the Mirror Savings Plan; these amounts were included in the Summary Compensation Table as salary and incentive compensation in the fiscal year earned. Company contributions to the Mirror Savings Plan for 2013 were included in the All Other Compensation column of the Summary Compensation Table.

Mirror Savings Plan.  The Mirror Savings Plan is a non-qualified defined contribution plan which provides associates earning more than the Code compensation limit for qualified savings plans (such as the Savings Plan) the opportunity to defer a portion of their base salary and incentive compensation exceeding the compensation limit as a means of saving for retirement. Accordingly, associates, including named executive officers, earning more than the compensation limit may defer up to 14% of their salary and annual incentive compensation below the Code compensation limit ($255,000 for 2013 and $260,000 for 2014) and up to 75% of their compensation above the Code compensation limit through the Mirror Savings Plan.

For 2013, the Company match was $0.50 per dollar deferred up to a maximum of 6% of deferrals on compensation over $255,000. This matching contribution was credited each pay period. The Company may make additional discretionary matching contributions.

For Company contributions made for Plan Years prior to 2007, participants vest in the JCPenney matching contribution and related investment earnings at a rate of 20% per year of service. For Company contributions made for Plan Years 2007 and after, participants become 100% vested in the match after three years of service.

Generally, all unvested Company matching contributions are forfeited when the participant terminates employment. The Mirror Savings Plan provides that all matching contributions are immediately vested and non-forfeitable if a participant terminates employment due to:

 

    Retirement at age 65,
    Qualifying for permanent and total disability while working for the Company,
    The work unit or type of work the associate was doing being discontinued (as determined by the Company), or
    Death.

Deferrals and Company matching contributions are credited to the participant’s Mirror Savings Plan account and invested according to the participant’s investment elections. Earnings on the balance in the participant’s Mirror Savings Plan accounts are based on hypothetical investments in the same funds offered under the Savings Plan. Participants can change their investment elections daily.

 

 

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Generally, a Mirror Savings Plan participant can only receive a distribution following an unforeseen emergency event (as defined under the Code), a change in control, or termination of employment. The only form of payment under the Mirror Savings Plan is a five year annual installment option. As a result of Mr. Ullman’s retirement from the Company on January 27, 2012, he is currently receiving distributions from the Mirror Savings Plan in five annual installments. However, due to timing, two distributions occurred in fiscal 2012 and no distribution occurred during fiscal 2013. No withdrawals or distributions were taken during the year by any of the other named executive officers.

 

 

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POTENTIAL PAYMENTS AND BENEFITS ON TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT

Under our compensation program, described above in “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” payments and the provision of benefits can be triggered by the termination of an associate’s employment. These payments and benefits may vary depending on the reason for termination as described below.

In the event of an associate’s voluntary resignation or retirement or the termination of an associate’s employment for cause, the associate is only entitled to receive payments for accrued base salary and vacation through the date of termination and any amounts payable under the terms of the Mirror Savings Plan regardless of whether or not the termination follows a change in control of the Company.

In the event that an associate’s termination is the result of death or permanent disability, the associate is entitled to additional payments and benefits, regardless of whether or not the termination follows a change in control of the Company.

In the event that an associate is involuntarily terminated without cause, the associate is entitled to additional payments and benefits, which may vary depending on whether or not the termination follows a change in control of the Company. An associate who terminates employment with good reason following a change in control of the Company is also entitled to additional payments and benefits.

In order to describe the payments and benefits that are triggered for each termination event for each of the Company’s named executive officers, we have created tables estimating the payments and benefits that would be paid to each of our current named executive officers under each element of our compensation program. The tables assume that the named executive officer’s employment terminated on February 1, 2014, which is the last day of the Company’s last completed fiscal year.

Termination without a Change in Control

In an effort to retain and attract the best people, the Company offers each of its senior executive officers the right to enter into an Executive Termination Pay Agreement (Termination Pay Agreement) with the Company. The CEO has elected not to enter into a Termination Pay Agreement. The form of the agreement was reviewed by the Human Resources and Compensation Committee and its independent consultant prior to being recommended to the Board for its approval. The Termination Pay Agreement is intended to provide the executive with severance benefits in exchange for the executive’s agreement to comply with certain restrictive covenants. The benefits payable under these agreements are not available if the executive receives the benefits under the 2009 Change in Control Plan or the 2011 Change in Control Plan, which are described later in this section.

The primary purpose of the Termination Pay Agreement is to provide for severance benefits in the event of involuntary termination of the executive’s employment without cause. For purposes of the agreement, cause includes:

 

    An intentional act of fraud, embezzlement, theft, or other material violation of law;
    Intentional damage to the Company’s assets;
    Intentional disclosure of confidential information in violation of the Company’s policies;
    Material breach of the executive’s obligations under the agreement;
    Breach of the executive’s duty of loyalty to the Company;
    Failure of the executive to substantially perform the duties of his or her job (other than as a result of physical or mental incapacity); or
    Intentional breach of Company policies or willful misconduct by the executive that is in either case materially injurious to the Company.

Under the Termination Pay Agreements, if an executive is involuntarily terminated without cause, he or she will receive a lump sum payment for services rendered through the termination date, including accrued base salary and pay in respect of earned but unused paid time off.

 

 

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Conditioned on execution of a release and expiration of the revocation period under the release, but no later than two and one-half months after the year of termination, the executive will also receive:

 

    A lump sum cash payment equal to annualized base salary plus target annual cash incentive compensation (at 100% of the target incentive opportunity in effect at the time of termination) with respect to a period of (a) 18 months following termination if the executive is an Executive Vice President or higher of the Company, or (b) 12 months following termination if the executive is a Senior Vice President;
    A lump sum cash payment equal to the average of the executive’s actual annual incentive compensation payments under the Management Incentive Compensation Program for the three fiscal years prior to the fiscal year of termination or, if termination occurs on the last day of the fiscal year, the actual annual cash incentive compensation, if greater, less any amount contributed to the Mirror Savings Plan;
    A lump sum payment in respect of additional paid time off, if any, under the Company’s paid time off policies;
    A lump sum payment representing the Company-paid portion of the premium toward medical, dental and life insurance coverages for the applicable severance period (18 months for Executive Vice Presidents and 12 months for Senior Vice Presidents), grossed-up for federal income taxes;
    A lump sum payment toward outplacement and financial counseling services ($25,000 for Executive Vice Presidents and $15,000 for Senior Vice Presidents);
    Immediate vesting of certain equity awards granted in connection with the executive’s commencement of employment; and
    Immediate vesting of a pro-rated portion of long-term incentive stock awards and stock options reflecting the executive’s length of employment during the vesting and/or performance period, as applicable.

Prior to December 2013, the Termination Pay Agreement provided for a lump sum cash payment equal to the prorated annual cash incentive compensation for the year of termination at 100% of the executive’s target incentive compensation opportunity at the time of termination and the immediate vesting of all long-term incentive stock awards and stock options. Beginning in December 2013, the Company’s standard form of Executive Termination Pay Agreement provides for a lump sum cash payment equal to the average of the executive’s actual incentive compensation payments for the three fiscal years prior to the fiscal year of termination pro-rated for the executive’s period of service during the fiscal year or, if termination occurs on the last day of the fiscal year, the actual annual cash incentive compensation, if greater. The updated standard form also permits the full vesting of inducement equity awards granted in connection with an executive’s commencement of employment and limits the vesting of all other equity awards to a pro-rated portion of long-term incentive stock awards and stock options reflecting the executive’s length of employment during the vesting and/or performance period, as applicable.

In addition to providing severance payments in the event of an involuntary termination without cause, the Termination Pay Agreement also includes certain limited benefits in the event of death or termination due to permanent disability. In such case, the executive will receive a lump sum cash payment as soon as practicable after termination equal to prorated annual incentive compensation for service during the year at 100% of the executive’s target incentive compensation opportunity, less any amount contributed to the Mirror Savings Plan. These benefits were included in the form of Termination Pay Agreement to replace similar benefits received by certain Company executives under employment contracts which have been phased out as they have expired or been terminated.

By entering into a Termination Pay Agreement, the executive agrees to the following restrictive covenants:

 

    Obligation not to disclose confidential or proprietary information of the Company, which continues indefinitely following termination of employment;
    Obligation to refrain from activities designed to influence or persuade any person not to do business or to reduce its business with the Company, which continues for the applicable severance period following termination of employment;
    Obligation to refrain from attempting to influence or persuade any of the Company’s employees to leave their employment with the Company and to refrain from directly or indirectly soliciting or hiring employees of the Company, which continues for the applicable severance period following termination of employment; and

 

 

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    Obligation not to undertake work for a competing business, which continues for the applicable severance period following termination of employment.

The noncompetition covenant may be waived by the executive; however, he or she must then forego any severance benefits available under the Termination Pay Agreement. In the event the executive breaches any of the covenants listed above, the Company will not be obligated to make any further payments under the agreement and may seek to recover damages from the executive.

As of the date of this Proxy Statement, Ms. Dhillon, Ms. Evanson and Messrs. Hannah and Laverty have Termination Pay Agreements. Mr. Johnson was not party to a Termination Pay Agreement and did not receive any severance upon his departure from the Company. Mr. Kramer was party to a Termination Pay Agreement during fiscal 2013 and we agreed to reduce his severance payment upon his departure from the Company. The amounts paid to Mr. Kramer under the terms of the Termination Pay Agreement are reflected as All Other Compensation to him in the Summary Compensation Table. In addition, a pro rata portion of Mr. Kramer’s equity awards vested in accordance with his Termination Pay Agreement. Mr. Walker was party to a Termination Pay Agreement during fiscal 2013 but did not receive any severance payments as a result of his voluntary resignation. Mr. Sweeney was party to a Termination Pay Agreement during fiscal 2013 and the amounts paid to Mr. Sweeney under the terms of the Termination Pay Agreement are reflected as All Other Compensation to him in the Summary Compensation Table. In addition, a pro rata portion of Mr. Sweeney’s equity awards vested in accordance with his Termination Pay Agreement. The vested equity awards are reflected in the Option Exercises and Stock Vested for Fiscal 2013 Table.

Change in Control; Termination following a Change in Control

The Company’s executive officers participate in the change of control plan in effect on the date upon which they become eligible for benefits under the change in control plan. Ms. Evanson and Messrs. Hannah and Laverty participate in the change in control plan approved in January 2011 (2011 Change in Control Plan) and Ms. Dhillon participates in the change of control plan approved in 2009 (2009 Change in Control Plan). Mr. Ullman does not participate in a change in control plan. None of our named executive officers are entitled to a tax gross-up payment in respect of any excise taxes imposed on the benefits payable under their respective plan.

The 2011 Change in Control Plan provides benefits to the Company’s executives if their employment is terminated as a result of an involuntary separation from service by the Company other than for cause within two years of the occurrence of a change in control of the Company. The 2011 Change in Control Plan also provides benefits to an executive if the executive terminates employment with the Company for Good Reason following a change of control. Good Reason consists of:

 

    A material reduction in the executive’s base salary or target annual cash incentive opportunity;
    Involuntary relocation of more than 50 miles;
    A materially adverse change in the executive’s duties or responsibilities;
    A material diminution in the budget over which the executive has responsibility;
    A material adverse change in the executive’s supervisor’s duties or responsibilities, including a change in the supervisor to whom the executive is required to report; or
    Failure of the Company to continue a material benefit or a material reduction in the benefits in which the executive participated prior to the occurrence of the change in control, unless replaced by a substantially equivalent benefit.

For an executive to receive benefits under the 2011 Change in Control Plan, a Good Reason event with respect to such executive must occur within two years of the occurrence of a change in control of the Company, and if the Good Reason event is not cured by the Company following timely notice of the event by the executive, the executive must terminate employment within the later of (i) two years of the change in control or (ii) 180 days of the date the Good Reason event occurred.

Change in control is defined as (i) the acquisition by any person, entity or group of 30% or more of the Company’s outstanding common stock, (ii) the replacement of a majority of the Board of Directors, (iii) a

 

 

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reorganization, merger or consolidation, or the sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, subject to certain exceptions, or (iv) a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

Notice of a Good Reason event must be provided to the Company within 90 days of the event and the Company must be given a 30-day opportunity to correct the situation without having to pay benefits under the 2011 Change in Control Plan.

For purposes of the 2011 Change in Control Plan, cause includes the failure of the executive to substantially perform the duties of his or her job, failure of the executive to follow Company policy, engagement by the executive in illegal conduct, or gross misconduct injurious to the Company.

The 2011 Change in Control Plan provides a three-tiered benefit structure based on the executive’s position and responsibilities within the Company. Tier I participants, which include the CEO and executives reporting directly to the CEO, are entitled to receive cash severance of 2.99 annualized base salary plus target annual cash incentive opportunity (at 100%) at the time of termination. Tier II participants, which include the Company’s Executive Vice Presidents who do not report directly to the CEO, are entitled to receive cash severance of 2.5 times base salary plus target annual cash incentive opportunity (at 100%) at the time of termination. The Tier III participants (Senior Vice Presidents who are members of the Company’s Executive Board) are entitled to receive cash severance of two times annualized base salary plus target annual cash incentive opportunity (at 100%) at the time of termination.

In addition to the cash severance payments, all participants in the 2011 Change in Control Plan are entitled to receive the following at the time of termination:

 

    Accrued base salary and pay in respect of earned but unused paid time off through the date of termination;
    The average of the participant’s actual annual incentive compensation payments under the Management Incentive Compensation Program for the three fiscal years prior to the fiscal year of termination or, if termination occurs on the last day of the fiscal year, the actual annual cash incentive compensation, if greater, less any amount contributed to the Mirror Savings Plan;
    A lump sum payment in respect of additional paid time off, if any, under the Company’s paid time off policies;
    A lump sum payment representing the incremental value of additional years of age and service credited to the executive (equal to the executive’s cash severance multiple) with respect to the BRP, SRP, and Mirror Savings Plan, to the extent the executive participates in some or all of these plans;
    A lump sum payment representing the Company-financed portion of the premium toward medical, dental and life insurance coverages for the number of years equal to the applicable cash severance multiple for the executive, grossed-up for federal income taxes; and
    A lump sum payment of $25,000 toward outplacement and financial counseling services, and, to the extent applicable and allowable by law, reimbursement of legal fees and expenses incurred in defense of the executive’s rights under the plan.

Additionally, participants in the 2011 Change in Control Plan are eligible for up to one year of additional age and service credit for purposes of determining retiree eligibility under the Company’s medical, dental, life insurance, long term care insurance, and lifetime discount programs.

Ms. Dhillon participates in the 2009 Change in Control Plan, which is substantially similar to the 2011 Change in Control Plan. This plan entitles her to receive cash severance of 2.99 times annualized base salary plus target annual cash incentive opportunity (at 100%) at the time of termination.

In addition to the benefits provided by the 2011 Change in Control Plan, some of the Company’s other plans and programs, such as the Company’s equity compensation plans, also include specific benefits payable to associates in the event of a change in control of the Company. The Company’s 2009 Long-Term Incentive Plan and 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan provide that vesting of outstanding equity awards is accelerated if the participant’s employment is terminated as a result of an involuntary separation from service by the Company

 

 

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other than for Cause within two years of the occurrence of a change in control of the Company. For purposes of these plans, a change of control is defined as (i) the acquisition by a person or group of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Company’s common stock, (ii) the acquisition by a person or a group within a twelve-month period of 30% of the total voting power of the Company’s common stock or the replacement of a majority of the Board of Directors within a twelve-month period unless approved by a majority of the Board, or (iii) the acquisition by a person or group of 40% or more of the assets of the Company. The plans also provide for vesting acceleration of outstanding awards if the participant terminates employment with the Company for Good Reason within two years of the occurrence of a change in control of the Company. The definition of Good Reason under these plans is the same as the definition under the 2011 Change in Control Plan.

Involuntary Termination without a Change in Control

 

    Named Executive Officers  

Benefit or Payment

  Myron E. Ullman, III     Kenneth H. Hannah     Janet L. Dhillon     Brynn L. Evanson     D. Scott Laverty  

Base Salary

  $ 0      $ 1,275,000      $ 1,050,000      $ 675,000      $ 675,000   

Annual Cash Incentive

  $ 0      $ 1,688,650      $ 1,281,000      $ 830,700      $ 830,700   

Stock Options

  $ 0      $ 0      $ 0      $ 0      $ 0   

Restricted Stock

  $ 0      $   1,109,905      $   1,280,170      $ 266,915      $ 180,104   

Mirror Savings Plan

  $   36,907      $ 0      $ 411,116      $ 87,242      $ 0   

Health and Life Insurance

  $ 0      $ 32,083      $ 16,299      $ 1,958      $ 22,988   

Financial Counseling and Outplacement

  $ 0      $ 25,000      $ 25,000      $ 25,000      $ 25,000   

Vacation

  $ 38,462      $ 29,968      $ 24,679      $ 15,649      $ 17,308   

Excise Tax (Cutback)

  $ 0      $ 0      $ 0      $ 0      $ 0   

Total

  $ 75,369      $ 4,160,606      $ 4,088,264      $   1,902,464      $   1,751,100   

Involuntary Termination with a Change in Control

 

    Named Executive Officers  

Benefit or Payment

  Myron E. Ullman, III     Kenneth H. Hannah     Janet L. Dhillon     Brynn L. Evanson     D. Scott Laverty  

Base Salary

  $ 0      $ 2,541,500      $ 2,093,000      $ 1,345,500      $ 1,345,500   

Annual Cash Incentive

  $ 0      $ 2,033,200      $ 2,063,250      $ 1,040,352      $ 1,009,125   

Stock Options

  $ 0      $ 0      $ 0      $ 0      $ 0   

Restricted Stock

  $ 0      $   1,109,905      $ 1,280,170      $ 266,915      $ 180,104   

Mirror Savings Plan

  $   36,907      $ 0      $ 411,116      $ 87,242      $ 0   

Health and Life Insurance

  $ 0      $ 63,950      $ 32,489      $ 3,903      $ 45,821   

Financial Counseling and Outplacement

  $ 0      $ 25,000      $ 25,000      $ 25,000      $ 25,000   

Vacation

  $ 38,462      $ 29,968      $ 24,679      $ 15,649      $ 17,308   

Excise Tax (Cutback)

  $ 0      $ (88,950   $ (1,125,602   $ (28,909   $ (70,821

Total

  $ 75,369      $ 5,714,573      $    4,804,102      $   2,755,652      $   2,552,037   

Death or Disability

 

    Named Executive Officers  

Benefit or Payment

  Myron E. Ullman, III     Kenneth H. Hannah     Janet L. Dhillon     Brynn L. Evanson     D. Scott Laverty  

Base Salary

  $ 0      $ 0      $ 0      $ 0      $ 0   

Annual Cash Incentive

  $ 0      $ 668,650      $ 493,500      $ 324,150      $ 324,150   

Stock Options

  $ 0      $ 0      $ 0      $ 0      $ 0   

Restricted Stock

  $ 0      $ 528,620      $ 447,292      $ 156,732      $ 103,434   

Mirror Savings Plan

  $   36,907      $ 0      $ 411,116      $ 87,242      $ 0   

Health and Life Insurance

  $ 0      $ 0      $ 0      $ 0      $ 0   

Vacation

  $ 38,462      $ 29,968      $ 24,679      $ 15,649      $ 17,308   

Excise Tax (Cutback)

  $ 0      $ 0      $ 0      $ 0      $ 0   

Total

  $ 75,369      $   1,227,238      $   1,376,587      $   583,773      $   444,892   

 

 

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DIRECTOR COMPENSATION FOR FISCAL 2013

 

Name

   Fees Earned
or Paid
in Cash ($)
     Stock Awards
($)(1)
     Option
Awards
($)
   All Other
Compensation
($)(2)
     Total ($)  

William A. Ackman(3)

              

Colleen C. Barrett(4)

   $ 75,000       $ 150,003          $ 0       $ 225,003   

Thomas J. Engibous(5)

   $ 28       $ 324,975          $ 0       $ 325,003   

Kent B. Foster(6)

   $ 90,000       $ 150,003          $ 10,000       $ 250,003   

Geraldine B. Laybourne(7)

   $ 52,500       $ 150,003          $ 0       $ 202,503   

Leonard H. Roberts(8)

   $ 90,000       $ 150,003          $ 10,000       $ 250,003   

Steven Roth(9)

   $ 37,527       $ 0          $ 0       $ 37,527   

Stephen I. Sadove(10)

   $ 22,750       $ 85,893          $ 10,000       $ 118,643   

Javier G. Teruel(11)

   $ 30       $ 228,533          $ 0       $ 228,563   

R. Gerald Turner(12)

   $ 75,000       $ 150,003          $ 10,000       $ 235,003   

Ronald W. Tysoe(13)

   $ 38,889       $ 120,404          $ 10,000       $ 169,293   

Mary Beth West(14)

   $   85,000       $   150,003          $   10,000       $   245,003   

 

(1) Each non-employee director receives an annual stock grant consisting of a number of restricted stock units having a market value nearest to $150,000. For 2013, the number of units was determined by dividing $150,000 by the closing price of JCPenney common stock on the date of grant (rounded to the nearest whole unit). The amounts shown in this column include the fair value of the annual stock award for 2013, which was $18.72. The date of grant of the annual stock grant to non-employee directors is the third trading date following the Company’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
(2) Includes the value of Company matching contributions under the Directors’ Matching Fund. Under this program, directors may request JCPenney to match dollar-for-dollar their personal charitable contributions up to $10,000 per fiscal year.
(3) Mr. Ackman waived his director fees and elected to not receive an annual stock award. Mr. Ackman resigned from the Board on August 12, 2013.
(4) Ms. Barrett had 40,883 stock awards, consisting of 36,801 restricted stock unit awards and 4,082 restricted stock awards, outstanding as of February 1, 2014.
(5) Mr. Engibous has elected to receive 100 percent of his cash retainers in shares of JCPenney common stock. The amount shown in the Stock Awards column includes the fair value of stock received in lieu of cash. Fractional shares are paid out in cash. Mr. Engibous had 49,121 stock awards, consisting of 36,801 restricted stock unit awards and 12,320 restricted stock awards, outstanding as of February 1, 2014.
(6) Mr. Foster had 49,121 stock awards, consisting of 36,801 restricted stock unit awards and 12,320 restricted stock awards, outstanding as of February 1, 2014.
(7) Ms. Laybourne had 25,502 restricted stock unit awards outstanding as of October 7, 2013, the day on which she resigned from the Board.
(8) Mr. Roberts had 46,560 stock awards, consisting of 36,801 restricted stock unit awards and 9,759 restricted stock awards, outstanding as of February 1, 2014.
(9) Mr. Roth elected to not receive an annual stock award. Mr. Roth resigned from the Board on September 13, 2013.
(10) Mr. Sadove had 10,565 restricted stock unit awards outstanding as of February 1, 2014. Mr. Sadove became a director on November 4, 2013 and received an award of restricted stock units that represented a pro-rata amount of the 2013 annual equity award using the closing price of JCPenney common stock on the date of grant, which was $8.13.
(11) Mr. Teruel has elected to receive 100 percent of his cash retainers in shares of JCPenney common stock. The amount shown in the Stock Awards column includes the fair value of stock received in lieu of cash. Fractional shares are paid out in cash. Mr. Teruel had 32,298 restricted stock unit awards outstanding as of February 1, 2014.
(12) Dr. Turner had 51,621 stock awards, consisting of 36,801 restricted stock unit awards and 13,220 restricted stock awards, and 1,600 option awards outstanding as of February 1, 2014.

 

 

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(13) Mr. Tysoe had 8,706 restricted stock unit awards outstanding as of February 1, 2014. Mr. Tysoe became a director on August 12, 2013 and received an award of restricted stock units that represented a pro-rata amount of the 2013 annual equity award using the closing price of JCPenney common stock on the date of grant, which was $13.83.
(14) Ms. West had 35,960 restricted stock unit awards outstanding as of February 1, 2014.

Cash Retainers and Stock Award

Directors who are Company associates do not receive directors’ fees. The Corporate Governance Committee has the responsibility for recommending to the Board of the Directors the appropriate compensation for non-employee directors, including the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board. The Corporate Governance Committee conducts periodic reviews to assure that non-employee directors are being fairly and reasonably compensated in relation to comparable U.S. companies and did not make any changes in director compensation in fiscal 2013. Non-employee directors receive the following compensation:

 

    An annual cash retainer of $70,000;
    An annual award of restricted stock units with a market value at the time of grant of $150,000;
    An annual cash retainer of $20,000 for the chairs of the Audit Committee and the Human Resources and Compensation Committee;
    An annual cash retainer of $15,000 for the chairs of the Corporate Governance Committee and the Finance and Planning Committee;
    An annual cash retainer of $100,000 for the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board; and
    An annual cash retainer of $5,000 for directors who are Representatives under an Indemnification Trust Agreement among the Company, its wholly owned subsidiary, J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc., and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as trustee (currently Directors Barrett, Engibous and Turner).

Director compensation covers the period from June 1 to May 31 following the election of directors at the annual meeting in May. The cash retainers are payable quarterly. Non-employee directors are reimbursed for expenses incurred for attending any meeting which they attend in their official capacities as directors. Director equity awards are required to be held until the director’s service ends.

Election to Receive Common Stock; Deferral

Directors may elect to receive all or a portion of their cash retainers in JCPenney common stock. Two directors elected to receive all or part of their 2013 cash retainers in JCPenney common stock. A director may also elect to defer payment of all or part of their cash retainers under the terms of a deferred compensation plan for directors. One director elected such deferral with respect to 2013 compensation.

Directors’ Charitable Award Program

The Directors’ Charitable Award Program was frozen by the Board in 2000. Three of the current directors participate in the program. The Charitable Award Program was designed to acknowledge the service of directors and to recognize the mutual interest of directors and the Company in supporting worthy charitable and educational institutions. Pursuant to the Charitable Award Program, the Company has purchased joint life insurance policies on groups of directors (in the event of an uneven number of directors, a single life policy was purchased). Each group generally consists of two directors with the Company named as the beneficiary of each joint life policy. With respect to each group, the Company will receive a $1,000,000 death benefit upon the death of the second director of the group. The Company in turn has informally agreed to donate a total of $1,000,000 to one or more charitable organizations as recommended by the individual directors. The Company will donate $500,000 upon the earlier of (i) five years after the date of death of the first director of the group to die or (ii) the death of the second director of the group. The Company will donate an additional $500,000 upon the death of the second director of the group. Because all charitable deductions accrue solely to the Company, the individual directors derive no financial benefits from this program.

 

 

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Directors’ Matching Fund

Members of the Board of Directors may be involved with charitable organizations to which they provide support in the form of personal charitable contributions. As with the Charitable Award Program, the Company has established the Directors’ Matching Fund to benefit and recognize the mutual interest of directors and the Company in supporting worthy charitable and educational institutions. Under the Directors’ Matching Fund, directors may request JCPenney to match dollar-for-dollar their personal charitable contributions up to $10,000 per fiscal year. All or part of the matching contributions may be allocated to one or several organizations that have been determined to be charitable organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Code or that are a political subdivision of the state. Matches may only be made on personal gifts that have been paid within that fiscal year, not pledged.

 

 

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AUDIT FUNCTION

Report of the Audit Committee

Composition and Qualifications

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors (the Audit Committee) is composed of four independent directors and operates under a written charter, in accordance with applicable rules of the SEC and the NYSE. The Corporate Governance Committee and the full Board of Directors considers membership for the Audit Committee annually. The current members of the Audit Committee are Thomas J. Engibous, Javier G. Teruel, Mary Beth West and Leonard H. Roberts, who serves as its Chair. The Board of Directors has determined that each member is “financially literate” and qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert,” as those terms are defined by the NYSE and the SEC.

Purpose

The purpose of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board in monitoring: (i) the Company’s accounting and financial reporting processes, including internal control over financial reporting; (ii) the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; (iii) the independence and qualifications of the Company’s independent auditor; and (iv) the performance of the Company’s internal auditors and independent auditor.

Responsibilities

Management is responsible for maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting and KPMG LLP is responsible for expressing opinions on the conformity of the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The Audit Committee’s responsibility is to monitor and oversee these processes. The Audit Committee is also solely responsible for the selection and termination of the Company’s independent auditor, including the approval of audit fees and non-audit services provided by and fees paid to the independent auditor.

Review of Financial Information

In this context, the Audit Committee has met and held discussions with management of the Company, who represented to the Audit Committee that the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited consolidated financial statements, management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, and KPMG LLP’s evaluation of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting with both management and the independent auditor. The Audit Committee also discussed with the independent auditor the matters required to be discussed by the Statement on Auditing Standard No. 16 (Communications with Audit Committees). The Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent auditor required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent auditor’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and the Audit Committee discussed with the independent auditor its independence. The Audit Committee also participated in the certification process relating to the filing of certain reports pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Inclusion of Consolidated Financial Statements in Form 10-K

Based on the review and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited consolidated financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended February 1, 2014 for filing with the SEC.

 

 

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Independent Auditor

The Audit Committee also recommends that the Company’s stockholders ratify KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent auditor for the 2014 fiscal year.

Audit Committee

 

Leonard H. Roberts, Chair    Javier G. Teruel
Thomas J. Engibous    Mary Beth West

Audit and Other Fees

The following table presents fees for professional services rendered by KPMG LLP:

 

     Fiscal 2012      Fiscal 2013  

Audit Fees(1)

   $   3,993,610       $   3,856,609   

Audit-Related Fees(2)

     293,700         304,500   

Total Audit and Audit-Related Fees

   $ 4,287,310       $ 4,161,109   

Tax Fees

     

Tax Compliance Fees(3)

   $ 564,496       $ 276,664   

Tax Planning and Advice Fees(4)

     377,361           

All Other Fees(5)

     30,000           

Total Fees(6)

   $ 5,259,167       $ 4,437,773   

 

(1) Audit fees include fees for the audits of the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements, for professional services rendered for the audits of internal control over financial reporting, for quarterly reviews and for review of SEC filings and other related matters.
(2) Audit-related fees in both years were for certain employee benefit plan audits and audits of financial statements of a related entity.
(3) Tax compliance fees consist of fees for services related to review of tax returns, management transition, transfer pricing, capitalization of costs related to store remodel programs and Section 382 ownership change testing.
(4) Tax planning and advice fees consist of services related to analysis of U.S. Customs duties on merchandise purchases.
(5) All other fees for Fiscal 2012 include fees for work related to compliance reviews of administrative expenses charged to certain employee benefit plans.
(6) All fees were pre-approved by the Audit Committee of the Board.

Audit Committee’s Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

The Audit Committee must approve any fee for services to be performed by the Company’s independent auditor in advance of the service being performed. For proposed projects using the services of the Company’s independent auditor that are expected to cost over $200,000 or 5% of the auditor’s fee for the preceding year, whichever is lower, the Audit Committee will be provided information to review and must approve each project prior to commencement of any work. For proposed projects using the services of the Company’s independent auditor that are expected to cost $200,000 or less, or less than 5% of the auditor’s fee for the preceding year, whichever is greater, the Audit Committee will be asked to review and approve a maximum amount for certain services, which may include services in any one or more of the following categories: (a) audit fees; (b) audit-related fees; (c) tax fees; and (d) all other fees for any services allowed to be performed by the independent auditor. If additional amounts are needed, the Audit Committee must approve the increased amounts prior to the previously approved maximum being reached and before the work may continue. Approval by the Audit Committee may be made at its regularly scheduled meetings or otherwise, including by telephonic or other electronic communications. The Company will report the status of the various types of approved services and fees, and cumulative amounts paid and owed, to the Audit Committee on a periodic basis as appropriate.

 

 

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PROPOSAL 2 — RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITOR

KPMG LLP, independent certified public accountants, member of the SEC Practice Section of the AICPA Division for CPA firms, and registrant with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, has been the auditor of the Company’s consolidated financial statements since 1916. Its appointment as the Company’s independent auditor for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2015 has been approved by the Audit Committee of the Board. Stockholder ratification of such appointment is requested.

It is anticipated that a representative of KPMG LLP will attend the meeting, will be available to respond to appropriate questions, and will have an opportunity to make a statement should he or she so desire.

The Board recommends a vote FOR the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP.

 

 

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PROPOSAL 3 — APPROVAL OF 2014 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

Introduction.  The Board has adopted, subject to stockholder approval, the J. C. Penney Company, Inc. 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan, to be effective May 17, 2014 (2014 Plan or Plan). The principal features of the 2014 Plan are summarized below, but such description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Plan which is included as Annex A to this Proxy Statement. The 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan is substantially similar to the 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan approved by stockholders at the 2012 annual meeting. All capitalized terms not defined in this Proxy Statement discussion will have the meanings set forth in the attached Plan document.

The 2014 Plan is intended to provide long-term incentives to Associates and Non-Associate Directors of the Company in order to align the interests of such Associates and Non-Associate Directors with those of the Company’s stockholders, to motivate Associates to achieve business objectives promoting the long-term growth, profitability, and success of the Company, and to assist the Company in retaining and attracting the best Associates and Non-Associate Directors in retail.

The Plan will be administered by, or under the direction of, a committee of the Board of Directors constituted in such a manner as to comply at all times with Rule 16b-3 or any successor rule promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as in effect from time to time, and Section 162(m) of the Code. The Board has designated the Human Resources and Compensation Committee of the Board as the Plan committee.

The 2014 Plan allows for grants of stock options, stock appreciation rights (SARs), and stock awards (collectively, Equity Awards) and cash incentive awards (together, Awards) to Associate participants and Equity Awards to Non-Associate Director participants. Under the Plan, Awards to Associate participants are subject to such conditions as continued employment, qualifying termination, passage of time and/or satisfaction of performance criteria as specified in the Plan or set by the Plan committee.

The Board recommends a vote FOR the proposal to approve the 2014 Plan.

Principal Features of the 2014 Plan.

General.  The principal features of the 2014 Plan are:

 

    Fungible share design, in which each stock option and SAR will count as one share issued under the 2014 Plan and each stock award, including restricted stock and restricted stock units, will count as two shares issued under the 2014 Plan;
    Reserves a total of 16,000,000 shares of Common Stock or 32,000,000 options for use under the Plan;
    Minimum three-year vesting for restricted stock and stock unit awards except in certain limited situations as may be determined by the Plan committee;
    Performance Awards are to be tied to Performance Goals to be set by the Plan committee;
    Independent administration of the Plan by the Plan committee;
    Limits Incentive Stock Options (ISOs) to no more than 32,000,000 options;
    Limits performance-based cash incentive awards to any participant in any calendar year to the product of $2,000,000 and the number of years in the performance cycle;
    Limits stock option and SAR awards to any one participant to no more than 4,000,000 options;
    Limits performance-based equity awards to any one participant to no more than 3,000,000 shares;
    Provides that shares subject to awards under the Plan or under prior plans that are cancelled or forfeited, or terminate, lapse or expire for any reason, or settle without full delivery of the shares of Common Stock underlying such award, may again be available for issuance;
    Prohibits repricing, exchange and buyout of stock options and SARs without prior approval of stockholders; and
    Option and SAR terms may not exceed 10 years from the date of grant, except in certain limited circumstances described in the Plan.

 

 

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Associate Participants

General.  Associate participants in the 2014 Plan are generally to be selected management employees of the Company and its subsidiaries as determined by the Plan committee. Currently, it is anticipated that approximately 700 Associates will be eligible to participate.

Stock Options.  Option grants will generally be made in amounts based on an Associate participant’s position, responsibilities or salary and such other factors as the Plan committee may deem relevant. An Associate participant may receive one or more option grants and may receive Non-Qualified Stock Options (NSOs) and ISOs, as determined by the Plan committee. It is currently expected that the Stock Option portion of any Award will be delivered in NSOs which will vest over a three-year period.

Price.  The option price under each option may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of JCPenney common stock on the date of grant, which is the closing price of JCPenney common stock on the NYSE on the applicable date. The closing price of JCPenney common stock on March 17, 2014, as reported on the NYSE Composite Tape, was $8.69 per share. The exercise price of the shares as to which a Stock Option is exercised may be paid in cash or with shares of JCPenney common stock already owned by the Associate.

Stock Awards.  The Committee may award shares of Common Stock or stock units to such Associate participants and on such bases as it may determine. The Committee may determine the types of awards made, the number of shares, and any other terms, conditions, or restrictions relating to the awards, as it may deem appropriate.

Stock Appreciation Rights.  SARs may be granted to such Associate participants and on such terms and conditions as the Plan committee may determine and may be granted independently or in tandem with related awards or options, either concurrently with or after the related award or option date. A SAR will generally entitle an Associate participant to receive the number of shares of JCPenney common stock equal in value to the excess of the fair market value of each share of JCPenney common stock covered by the SAR on the date of exercise over the exercise price of the SAR, but may, at the discretion of the Plan committee, be settled in cash.

Cash Incentive Awards.  The Plan committee may also grant cash incentive awards to such Associate participants on such terms and conditions as it may determine. Cash incentive awards are annual or long-term performance-based awards expressed in U.S. dollars.

Performance-Based Awards.  Any Award granted pursuant to the Plan may be made in the form of a performance-based Award. Performance-based Awards are made based on the measurement of performance against certain Performance Goals over a Performance Period. The Committee may use one or more of several business criteria for the purpose of establishing a Performance Goal, including:

Earnings Per Share;

Total Stockholder Return;

Operating Income;

Net Income;

Cash Flow;

Gross Profit;

Gross Profit Return on Investment;

Return on Equity;

Return on Capital;

Sales;

Revenues;

Gross Margin;

Gross Margin Return on Investment;

 

 

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Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA);

Earnings Before Interest and Taxes (EBIT); and

Operating Profit (OP).

The Committee may establish any special adjustments in calculating whether Performance Goals have been met including taking into consideration the effect of any event not directly related to the operations of the Company or not within the reasonable control of management. These Performance Goals are intended to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code regarding the deductibility of executive compensation. A performance-based award to be paid out as a restricted Equity Award may not generally have a vesting period of less than one year and a performance-based incentive cash award may not generally have a Performance Cycle of less than one year. A performance-based award, other than a restricted Equity Award, may not generally have a vesting period of less than three years.

Terms of Options and SARs.  An option or SAR granted under the 2014 Plan will become exercisable on such terms and at such times as the Plan committee may determine. In the event of employment termination due to death, disability, retirement, or other circumstances, as deemed appropriate by the Plan committee, the Plan authorizes post-termination exercise periods, but not beyond the options’ or SARs’ original expiration date. In no event may an ISO be exercised more than 10 years after its grant date. Generally, an NSO and an SARmay not be exercised more than 10 years after its grant date, or such shorter time period as determined by the Plan committee.

Transferability.  No unearned Stock Award or vested or unvested Stock Option, or any portion thereof, may be assigned or transferred except by will or the laws of descent or distribution, or by such other means as the Plan committee, in its discretion, may approve. No Stock Option or SAR shall be exercisable during the Associate participant’s lifetime except by the Associate participant or the Associate participant’s guardian or legal representative, or other third party, as the Plan committee may determine.

Deferral.  Unless specifically provided for in the Award Notice or the determination of the Plan committee, no Equity Award shall provide any feature for the deferral of compensation as defined by Treasury Regulation section 1.409A-1(b). Any deferral will be for such period and in accordance with the terms and conditions as the Plan committee may determine and must be in compliance with Code Section 409A. The terms and conditions applicable to such deferral and the terms and conditions evidencing compliance with Code Section 409A shall be set forth in the Award Notice or the determinations. The method of payment for, and type and character of, any Award may not be altered by any deferral unless specifically permitted under Code Section 409A and the Treasury Regulations thereunder.

Term of Plan.  The 2014 Plan will terminate on May 31, 2019. After this date, no Awards may be made under the Plan and any Performance Goal may be deemed to have been met on such terms as the Committee may determine at the time of grant.

Change in Control.  Upon an involuntary termination of an Associate participant’s employment within two years following a Change in Control, the Associate participant shall have the right to exercise any and all Stock Options and SARs held by such Associate participant, and all Stock Awards held by such Associate participant shall immediately vest, be deemed to have been earned and any Performance Goal for the then applicable Performance Cycle met, on such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Plan committee at the time of the grant or award. The Committee has the discretion on a Change in Control to terminate the Plan and distribute amounts that were vested as of the effective date of the Change in Control within 12 months of the Change in Control event.

Federal Income Tax Consequences

Under current federal tax law, the following discussion summarizes the United States federal income tax consequences generally arising with respect to awards granted under the Plan. This summary is not intended to

 

 

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be exhaustive and the exact tax consequences to any participant will depend on various factors and the participant’s particular circumstances. This summary is based on present laws, regulations and interpretations and is not a complete description of federal tax consequences. This summary of federal tax consequences may change in the event of a change in the Code or regulations thereunder or interpretations thereof. We urge participants in the Plan to consult their tax advisors with respect to any state, local and foreign tax considerations or particular federal tax implications of awards made under the Plan prior to taking action with respect to an award. The Plan is not intended to be a “qualified plan” under Section 401(a) of the Code.

Non-qualified Stock Options.  An Associate participant will not be subject to tax at the time an NSO is granted, and no tax deduction is then available to the Company. On the exercise of an NSO, an amount equal to the difference between the exercise price and the fair market value of the shares acquired on the date of exercise will be included in the holder’s ordinary income, and the Company will generally be entitled to deduct the same amount. Upon disposition of shares acquired on exercise, appreciation or depreciation after the date of exercise will generally be treated by the Associate participant as either capital gain or loss.

Incentive Stock Options.  An Associate participant will not be subject to regular income tax at the time an ISO is granted or exercised, and no tax deduction is then available to the Company; however, the recipient may be subject to the alternative minimum tax, or AMT, on the excess of the fair market value of the shares received on exercise of the ISO, or the ISO Shares, over the exercise price. On disposition of the shares acquired on exercise of an ISO, capital gain or loss will generally be recognized in an amount equal to the difference between the sale price and the exercise price, as long as the recipient has not disposed of the shares within two years after the date of grant or within one year after the date of exercise (a “disqualifying disposition”) and has been employed by the Company or a subsidiary at all times from the grant date until the date three months before the date of exercise (one year in the case of disability).

If the recipient disposes of the ISO Shares without satisfying both the holding period and employment requirements, the recipient will recognize ordinary income at the time of the disposition equal to the excess of the amount realized over the exercise price. If the recipient disposes of the ISO shares without satisfying the holding period requirement, the recipient will recognize income equal to the excess of the fair market value of the ISO Shares on the date the ISO is exercised over the exercise price. Any remaining gain or loss being treated as capital gain or loss, respectively. The Company is not entitled to a tax deduction on either the exercise of an ISO or on disposition of the ISO Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an ISO, except to the extent that the recipient recognizes ordinary income on disposition of the shares.

The difference between the exercise price of an ISO and the fair market value of the ISO Shares on the date of exercise is an adjustment to income for purposes of the AMT. The AMT (imposed to the extent it exceeds the taxpayer’s regular tax) is a certain percentage of an individual taxpayer’s alternative minimum taxable income. The AMT is lower than regular tax rates but covers more income. Taxpayers determine their alternative minimum taxable income by adjusting regular taxable income for certain items, increasing that income by certain tax preference items, and reducing this amount by the applicable exemption amount. If a disqualifying disposition of the ISO Shares occurs in the same calendar year as exercise of the ISO, there is no AMT adjustment with respect to those ISO Shares. Also, on a sale of ISO Shares that is not a disqualifying disposition, alternative minimum taxable income is reduced when the participant sells the ISO Shares by the excess of the fair market value of the ISO Shares as of the date of exercise over the exercise price of the ISO.

Payment of the Exercise Price With Stock.  If an Associate participant surrenders common stock which the Associate participant already owns as payment for the exercise price of a stock option, the Associate participant will not recognize gain or loss as a result of the surrender. The number of shares received on exercise of the option equal to the number of shares surrendered will have a tax basis equal to the tax basis of the surrendered shares. The holding period for those shares will include the holding period for the shares surrendered. The remaining shares received will have a basis equal to the amount includable in the Associate participant’s taxable income on receipt of such shares. The Associate participant’s holding period for the remaining shares will commence on the day of exercise.

 

 

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If, however, the Associate participant surrenders ISO shares as payment for the exercise price of a stock option and the Associate participant has not held the ISO shares for at least two years following the date of grant of the ISO and at least one year following the date of exercise of the ISO, the Associate participant will generally recognize ordinary compensation income with respect to the surrender of the ISO Shares equal to the excess of the fair market value of the surrendered ISO Shares on the date the ISO is exercised over the exercise price of the ISO relating to the surrendered ISO Shares. The tax basis of the number of shares received on exercise of the stock option equal to the number of ISO Shares surrendered will equal the Associate participant’s basis in the surrendered ISO Shares, plus the amount of ordinary compensation income recognized by the Associate participant. The Associate participant will recognize no gain with respect to the remaining shares received, the tax basis of such shares will be equal to the amount includible in the Associate participant’s taxable income on receipt of the remaining shares, and the holding period of the remaining shares will begin on the day of such exercise. On disposition of the shares acquired on exercise of the option, the Associate participant will recognize gain or loss, depending on the value of the shares at disposition.

Stock Awards.  An Associate participant will be taxed on the fair market value of the shares of stock in the taxable year in which the date of grant occurs, unless the underlying shares are substantially nonvested (i.e. both nontransferable and subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture). However, an Associate participant who wishes to recognize compensation income with respect to substantially non-vested shares in the taxable year in which the date of grant occurs may do so by making a Section 83(b) Election. A Section 83(b) Election is made by filing a written notice with the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) office with which the Associate participant files his or her federal income tax return. The notice must be filed within 30 days of the Associate participant’s receipt of the stock and must meet certain technical requirements. An Associate participant who is subject to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act who receives stock will recognize ordinary income equal to the fair market value of the shares of stock received at the later of (i) the applicable date, or (ii) the earlier of: (a) the date on which the shares are transferable, or (b) the date on which the restrictions lapse, unless the Associate participant makes a Section 83(b) Election to report the fair market value of such shares received as ordinary income in the taxable year of receipt. The Company may deduct an amount equal to the income recognized by the Associate participant at the time the Associate participant recognizes the income, provided that the Associate participant’s compensation is within the statutory limitations of Section 162(m) of the Code. On the sale or disposition of shares of stock, an Associate participant will recognize taxable income equal to the difference between the amount realized by the Associate participant on the disposition of the stock and the Associate participant’s basis in the stock. The basis of the restricted shares in the hands of the Associate participant will be equal to the fair market value of the shares of stock on the date the Associate participant recognizes ordinary income as described above. The gain or loss will be taxable to the Associate participant as a capital gain or deductible by the Associate participant as a capital loss (either short-term or long-term, depending on the holding period of the stock), provided that the Associate participant held the stock as a capital asset. During the period in which an Associate participant holds stock, prior to the lapse of the restrictions, if dividends are declared but not distributed to the Associate participant until the restrictions lapse, the dividends will be treated for tax purposes by the Associate participant and the Company in the following manner: (i) if the Associate participant makes a Section 83(b) Election to recognize income at the time of receipt of the stock, the dividends will be taxed as dividend income to the Associate participant when the restrictions lapse and the Company will not be entitled to a deduction and will not be required to withhold income tax, or (ii) if the Associate participant does not make a Section 83(b) Election, the dividends will be taxed as compensation to the Associate participant when the restrictions lapse and will be deductible by the Company and subject to applicable federal income tax withholding at that time. If, instead, the Company pays dividends to the Associate participant prior to the lapse of the restrictions and the Associate participant makes a Section 83(b) Election, the dividends will be taxed as dividend income at the time of payment and will not be deductible by the Company. Conversely, if the Associate participant does not make a Section 83(b) Election, the dividends will be taxed as compensation to the Associate participant at the time of payment and will be deductible by the Company and subject to applicable federal income tax withholding at that time.

 

 

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Restricted Stock Unit Awards.  An Associate participant who is awarded restricted stock units will not recognize taxable income at the time of grant. An Associate participant is taxed on receipt of payment for an award of restricted stock units, which payment may be in shares of the Company’s common stock or cash. On receipt of payment for an award of restricted stock units, the fair market value of the shares or the amount of cash received will be taxed to the Associate participant at ordinary income rates. However, if any shares used as payment for restricted stock units are nontransferable and subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, the taxable event is deferred until either the restriction on transferability or the risk of forfeiture lapses. The basis of any shares used as payment for restricted stock units will be equal to the fair market value of the shares on the date the Associate participant recognizes ordinary income as described above. The Company may deduct an amount equal to the income recognized by the Associate participant at the time the Associate participant recognizes the income, provided that the Associate participant’s compensation is within the statutory limitations of Section 162(m) of the Code. If the Associate participant receives a dividend equivalent right, such dividend equivalent right will be taxed as compensation to the Associate participant (1) at the time of receipt (if the dividend equivalent right is not subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, such as vesting conditions), or (2) at the time the applicable restrictions lapse (if the dividend equivalent right is subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture), and will be deductible by the Company and subject to applicable federal income tax withholding at the time it is taxed to the recipient. On the sale or disposition of shares of the Company’s common stock used as payment for an award of restricted stock units, an Associate participant will recognize taxable income or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized by the Associate participant on the disposition of the stock and the Associate participant’s basis in the stock. The gain or loss will be taxable to the Associate participant as a capital gain or deductible by the Associate participant as a capital loss (either short-term or long-term, depending on the holding period of the shares of common stock), provided that the Associate participant held the shares as a capital asset.

Stock Appreciation Rights and Other Stock-Based Awards.  Associate participants will not realize taxable income on the grant of a SAR. The federal income tax consequences to a participant of the exercise of a SAR will vary depending on the form of payment. If the SAR is settled in cash or shares of the Company’s common stock that are substantially vested, the Associate participant must include in gross income an amount equal to the value of the consideration received on exercise or settlement. If the SAR is settled in shares of the Company’s common stock and the shares are not substantially vested, then the results discussed above under “Restricted Stock” regarding the taxation of restricted stock and “Section 83(b) Elections” will apply. The Company may deduct an amount equal to the income recognized by the Associate participant at the time the Associate participant recognizes the income, provided the Associate participant’s compensation is within the statutory limitations of Section 162(m) of the Code.

Performance Awards.  In order for awards granted under the Plan to qualify as performance-based awards under Section 162(m) of the Code, the grant or vesting of such awards must be subject to the achievement of performance goals based on the attainment of specified levels of one or more performance measures, as specified in the Plan. Performance measures may be absolute in their terms or measured against or in relationship to other companies comparably, similarly or otherwise situated and may be based on or adjusted for any other objective goals, events, or occurrences established by the Plan committee for a performance period. Such performance measures may be particular to a line of business, subsidiary or other unit or may be based on the performance of the Company generally.

Section 162(m) of the Code

Section 162(m) of the Code generally disallows a public company’s tax deduction for compensation paid to its covered employees as defined in Section 162(m) of the Code to the extent such compensation exceeds $1,000,000 in any tax year; however, compensation that qualifies as “performance-based compensation” is excluded from this $1,000,000 deduction limit and therefore remains fully deductible by the company that pays it. The Company intends that options granted with an exercise price at least equal to 100% of the fair market value of the underlying shares of common stock of the Company at the date of grant to employees the Plan

 

 

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committee expects to be named executive officers at the time a deduction arises in connection with these options, qualify as “performance-based compensation” so these options will not be subject to the Section 162(m) deduction limitations. It is also the intent of the Company that Performance-Based Awards to employees the Plan committee expects to be named executive officers at the time a deduction arises in connection with these options, qualify as “performance-based compensation” so these options will not be subject to the Section 162(m) deduction limitations. While the Company understands that stock awards or restricted stock unit awards to such individuals that vest solely on the passage of time will be subject to the deduction limitations of Section 162(m) of the Code the Company reserves the right to make grants that do not qualify for the performance exception, and the Company’s tax deductions for those grants may be limited or eliminated as a result of the application of Section 162(m) of the Code.

Section 409A of the Code

For Associate participants who are “key employees,” as defined in Code Section 409A and regulations promulgated under that Section, distributions of certain deferral amounts may occur no earlier than six months following the key employee’s separation from service from the Company. It is the intent of the Company that no awards under the Plan be subject to Section 409A of the Code unless and to the extent that the Plan committee specifically determines otherwise. The terms and conditions of any award made that the Plan committee determines will be subject to Section 409A of the Code will be set forth in the applicable award agreement and will be designed to comply in all respects with Section 409A of the Code. If the award fails to comply with the applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Code, the deferred compensation for the year in which the failure to comply with Section 409A occurs and for all preceding taxable years under the award and any other plan or arrangement required to be aggregated with the award may be includible in the participant’s gross income for the taxable year in which the failure occurs, to the extent such amounts are not subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture and have not previously been included in the participant’s gross income. The amounts so included are also subject to an additional income tax equal to twenty percent of the amount required to be included in gross income and to interest equal to the underpayment rate specified by the IRS plus one percentage point, on the underpayments of income tax that are deemed to have occurred because the compensation was not included in income for the taxable year when it was first deferred, or if later, when the compensation was no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture.

Non-Associate Director Participants

General.  Each director who is presently not an employee of the Company (Non-Associate Director participant) will generally be awarded an Annual Equity Award in an amount which the Board of Directors determines to be competitive by industry standards, and pursuant to such terms, conditions, and restrictions as determined by the Board of Directors. Currently, there are nine Non-Associate Directors eligible to participate in the Plan. An initial grant will also automatically be granted to each new Non-Associate Director participant on his or her first being elected as a director in a pro rata amount of the Annual Equity Award for that year, based on the date of election.

Non-Transferability.  A Non-Associate Director participant may not transfer, sell, assign, pledge, or otherwise encumber or dispose of any shares of Common Stock received in connection with an Annual Equity Award while serving as a director.

Federal Income Tax Consequences.  The federal income tax implications for Non-Associate Director participants are substantially similar to those for Associate participants, except that Non-Associate Director participants may not receive ISOs or cash incentive awards. Any election to defer compensation and any election to defer distributions will be made in compliance with Code Section 409A, if applicable.

Miscellaneous.  The Board of Directors may amend the 2014 Plan from time to time as it deems advisable and may terminate the 2014 Plan at any time. Amendments to increase the total number of shares of the Common

 

 

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Stock reserved under the 2014 Plan or that otherwise constitute material changes to the 2014 Plan under applicable tax or securities laws or the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange require stockholder approval. Except as otherwise provided in or permitted by the 2014 Plan or by the terms, if any, of an Award under the 2014 Plan, no termination or amendment of the 2014 Plan or change in the terms of an outstanding Award may adversely affect the rights of the holder of any Award without the consent of the holder. If the 2014 Plan is approved by stockholders, no further awards will be granted under any prior plan after the effective date of the 2014 Plan.

 

 

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BACKGROUND TO PROPOSALS 4 AND 5

Our business operations have generated significant net operating losses and unrealized tax losses (collectively, “NOLs”), and we may generate additional NOLs in future years. Under federal tax laws, we generally can use our NOLs and certain related tax credits to offset ordinary income tax paid in our prior two tax years or on our future taxable income for up to 20 years, when they “expire” for such purposes. Until they expire, we can “carry forward” NOLs and certain related tax credits that we do not use in any particular year to offset taxable income in future years. As of December 31, 2013, we had more than $2 billion in NOLs. While we cannot estimate the exact amount of NOLs that we can use to reduce our future income tax liability because we cannot predict the amount and timing of our future taxable income, we believe our NOLs are very valuable assets.

Our ability to utilize our NOLs to offset future taxable income may be significantly limited if we experience an “ownership change,” as determined under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). Under Section 382, an “ownership change” occurs if a stockholder or a group of stockholders that is deemed to own at least 5% of our common stock increases its ownership by more than 50 percentage points over its lowest ownership percentage within a rolling three-year period. If an ownership change occurs, Section 382 would impose an annual limit on the amount of our NOLs that we can use to offset taxable income equal to the product of the total value of our outstanding equity immediately prior to the ownership change (reduced by certain items specified in Section 382) and the federal long-term tax-exempt interest rate in effect for the month of the ownership change. A number of complex rules apply to calculating this annual limit.

If an ownership change were to occur, the limitations imposed by Section 382 could result in a material amount of our NOLs expiring unused and, therefore, significantly impair the value of our NOLs. While the complexity of Section 382’s provisions and the limited knowledge any public company has about the ownership of its publicly traded stock make it difficult to determine whether an ownership change has occurred, we currently believe that an ownership change has not occurred. However, if no action is taken, we believe it is possible that we could experience an ownership change in the future.

After careful consideration, our Board of Directors determined that the most effective way to protect the benefits of our NOLs for long-term stockholder value is to adopt both the Protective Amendment to the J. C. Penney Company, Inc. Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the “Protective Amendment”) and the J. C. Penney Company, Inc. Amended and Restated Rights Agreement (the “Amended Rights Agreement”). The Protective Amendment, which is designed to prevent certain transfers of our securities that could result in an ownership change, is described below under Proposal 4, and its full terms can be found in Annex B to this Proxy Statement. The Protective Amendment will not be put into effect until it is approved by our stockholders at the Annual Meeting.

On January 27, 2014, our Board of Directors approved, and the Company entered into, the Amended Rights Agreement, which is described below under Proposal 5 and the full terms of which can be found in Annex C to this Proxy Statement. The Amended Rights Agreement, pursuant to which the Company has issued certain stock purchase rights with terms designed to deter transfers of our common stock that could result in an ownership change, requires stockholder approval to remain in effect. The Amended Rights Agreement will expire immediately following the final adjournment of the Annual Meeting if stockholder approval of the Amended Rights Agreement is not received.

The Board of Directors urges our stockholders to carefully read each proposal, the items discussed below under the heading “Certain Considerations Related to the Protective Amendment and the Amended Rights Agreement,” beginning on page 72 of this Proxy Statement, and the full terms of the Protective Amendment and the Amended Rights Agreement, attached as Annex B and Annex C, respectively, to this Proxy Statement. It is important to note that neither measure offers a complete solution, and an ownership change may occur even if the Protective Amendment and the Amended Rights Agreement are approved. There may be limitations on the enforceability of the Protective Amendment against stockholders who do not vote to approve it that may allow an

 

 

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ownership change to occur, and the Amended Rights Agreement may deter, but ultimately cannot block, transfers of our common stock that might result in an ownership change. The limitations of these measures are described in more detail below. Because of their individual limitations, the Board of Directors believes that the adoption of both measures is appropriate and that together they will serve as important tools to help prevent an ownership change that could substantially reduce or eliminate the significant long-term potential benefits of our NOLs. Accordingly, the Board of Directors strongly recommends that stockholders approve the Protective Amendment and the Amended Rights Agreement.

PROPOSAL 4 — APPROVAL OF THE PROTECTIVE AMENDMENT

For the reasons discussed above under “Background to Proposals 4 and 5,” the Board of Directors recommends that stockholders approve the Protective Amendment to the J. C. Penney Company, Inc. Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended. The Protective Amendment is designed to prevent certain transfers of our common stock that could result in an ownership change under Section 382, which in turn could materially inhibit our ability to use our NOLs to reduce any future income tax liability. The Board of Directors believes it is in our and our stockholders’ best interests to adopt the Protective Amendment to help protect our NOLs.

The purpose of the Protective Amendment is to assist us in protecting long-term value to the Company of its accumulated NOLs by limiting direct or indirect transfers of our common stock that could affect the percentage of stock that is treated as being owned by a direct or indirect holder of 4.9% of our stock. In addition, the Protective Amendment includes a mechanism to block the impact of such transfers while allowing purchasers an opportunity to receive their money back from prohibited purchases. The Board of Directors has adopted resolutions approving and declaring the advisability of amending the Restated Certificate of Incorporation as described below and as provided in Annex B to this Proxy Statement; however, in order for the Protective Amendment to be implemented, it first must be approved by stockholders at the Annual Meeting.

Description of the Protective Amendment

The following description of the Protective Amendment is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Protective Amendment, which is contained in a proposed new Article Eleventh of our Restated Certificate of Incorporation and can be found in Annex B to this Proxy Statement. Please read the Protective Amendment in its entirety as the discussion below is only a summary.

Prohibited Transfers.  The Protective Amendment generally will restrict any direct or indirect transfer (such as transfers of our stock that result from the transfer of interests in other entities that own our stock) if the effect would be to:

 

    increase the direct or indirect ownership of our stock by any Person (as defined below) from less than 4.9% to 4.9% or more of our common stock; or
    increase the percentage of our common stock owned directly or indirectly by a Person owning or deemed to own 4.9% or more of our common stock.

“Person” means any individual, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, firm, corporation, unincorporated association or organization, trust or other entity or any group of such “Persons” having a formal or informal understanding among themselves to make a “coordinated acquisition” of shares within the meaning of Treasury Regulation § 1.382-3(a)(1) or who are otherwise treated as an “entity” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation § 1.382-3(a)(1), and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of any such entity or group.

Restricted transfers include sales to Persons whose resulting percentage ownership (direct or indirect) of our common stock would exceed the 4.9% thresholds discussed above, or to Persons whose direct or indirect ownership of our common stock would by attribution cause another Person to exceed such threshold. Complicated common stock ownership rules prescribed by the Code (and regulations promulgated thereunder)

 

 

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will apply in determining whether a Person is a 4.9% stockholder under the Protective Amendment. A transfer from one member of a “public group” (as that term is defined under Section 382) to another member of the same public group does not increase the percentage of our common stock owned directly or indirectly by the public group and, therefore, such transfers are not restricted. For purposes of determining the existence and identity of, and the amount of our common stock owned by, any stockholder, we will be entitled to rely on the existence or absence of certain public securities filings as of any date, and our actual knowledge of the ownership of our common stock. The Protective Amendment includes the right to require a proposed transferee, as a condition to registration of a transfer of our common stock, to provide all information reasonably requested regarding such person’s direct and indirect ownership of our common stock.

These transfer restrictions may result in the delay or refusal of certain requested transfers of our common stock, or prohibit ownership (thus requiring dispositions) of our common stock due to a change in the relationship between two or more persons or entities or to a transfer of an interest in an entity other than us that, directly or indirectly, owns our common stock. The transfer restrictions will also apply to proscribe the creation or transfer of certain “options” (which are broadly defined by Section 382) with respect to our common stock to the extent that, in certain circumstances, the creation, transfer or exercise of the option would result in a proscribed level of ownership.

Consequences of Prohibited Transfers.  Upon adoption of the Protective Amendment, any direct or indirect transfer attempted in violation of the Protective Amendment would be void as of the date of the prohibited transfer as to the purported transferee (or, in the case of an indirect transfer, the ownership of the direct owner of our common stock would terminate simultaneously with the transfer), and the purported transferee (or in the case of any indirect transfer, the direct owner) would not be recognized as the owner of the shares owned in violation of the Protective Amendment for any purpose, including for purposes of voting and receiving dividends or other distributions in respect of such common stock, or in the case of options, receiving our common stock in respect of their exercise. In this Proxy Statement, our common stock purportedly acquired in violation of the Protective Amendment is referred to as “excess stock.”

In addition to a prohibited transfer being void as of the date it is attempted, upon demand, the purported transferee must transfer the excess stock to our agent along with any dividends or other distributions paid with respect to such excess stock. Our agent is required to sell such excess stock in an arm’s-length transaction (or series of transactions) that would not constitute a violation under the Protective Amendment. The net proceeds of the sale, together with any other distributions with respect to such excess stock received by our agent, after deduction of all costs incurred by the agent, will be transferred first to the purported transferee in an amount, if any, up to the cost (or in the case of gift, inheritance or similar transfer, the fair market value of the excess stock on the date of the prohibited transfer) incurred by the purported transferee to acquire such excess stock, and the balance of the proceeds, if any, will be transferred to a charitable beneficiary. If the excess stock is sold by the purported transferee, such person will be treated as having sold the excess stock on behalf of the agent, and will be required to remit all proceeds to our agent (except to the extent we grant written permission to the purported transferee to retain an amount not to exceed the amount such person otherwise would have been entitled to retain had our agent sold such shares).

To the extent permitted by law, any stockholder who knowingly violates the Protective Amendment will be liable for any and all damages we suffer as a result of such violation, including damages resulting from any limitation in our ability to use our NOLs and any professional fees incurred in connection with addressing such violation.

With respect to any transfer of common stock that does not involve a transfer of our securities within the meaning of the Delaware General Corporation Law but that would cause a person to violate the Protective Amendment, the following procedure will apply in lieu of those described above: in such case, such person whose ownership of our securities is attributed to such proscribed person will be deemed to have disposed of (and will be required to dispose of) sufficient securities, simultaneously with the transfer, to cause such proscribed person not to be in violation of the Protective Amendment, and such securities will be treated as

 

 

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excess stock to be disposed of through the agent under the provisions summarized above, with the maximum amount payable to such stockholder that was the direct holder of such excess stock from the proceeds of sale by the agent being the fair market value of such excess stock at the time of the prohibited transfer.

Public Groups; Modification and Waiver of Transfer Restrictions.  In order to facilitate sales by stockholders into the market, the Protective Amendment permits otherwise prohibited transfers of our common stock where the transferee is a public group.

In addition, the Board of Directors will have the discretion to approve a transfer of our common stock that would otherwise violate the transfer restrictions if it determines that the transfer is in our and our stockholders’ best interests. If the Board of Directors decides to permit such a transfer, that transfer or later transfers may result in an ownership change that could limit our use of our NOLs. In deciding whether to grant a waiver, the Board of Directors may seek the advice of counsel and tax experts with respect to the preservation of our federal tax attributes pursuant to Section 382. In addition, the Board of Directors may request relevant information from the acquirer and/or selling party in order to determine compliance with the Protective Amendment or the status of our federal income tax benefits, including an opinion of counsel selected by the Board of Directors (the cost of which will be borne by the transferor and/or the transferee) that the transfer will not result in a limitation on the use of the NOLs under Section 382. If the Board of Directors decides to grant a waiver, it may impose conditions on the acquirer or selling party.

In the event of a change in law, the Board of Directors will be authorized to modify the applicable allowable percentage ownership interest (currently 4.9%) or modify any of the definitions, terms and conditions of the transfer restrictions or to eliminate the transfer restrictions, provided that the Board of Directors determines, by adopting a written resolution, that such action is reasonably necessary or advisable to preserve the NOLs or that the continuation of these restrictions is no longer reasonably necessary for such purpose, as applicable. Our stockholders will be notified of any such determination through a filing with the SEC or such other method of notice as the Secretary of the Company shall deem appropriate.

The Board of Directors may establish, modify, amend or rescind bylaws, regulations and procedures for purposes of determining whether any transfer of common stock would jeopardize our ability to use our NOLs.

Implementation and Expiration of the Protective Amendment

If our stockholders approve the Protective Amendment, we intend to promptly file the Protective Amendment with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, whereupon the Protective Amendment will become effective. We intend to immediately thereafter enforce the restrictions in the Protective Amendment to preserve the future use of our NOLs. We also intend to include a legend reflecting the transfer restrictions included in the Protective Amendment on certificates representing newly issued or transferred shares, to disclose such restrictions to persons holding our common stock in uncertificated form and to disclose such restrictions to the public generally.

The Protective Amendment would expire on the earliest of (i) the close of business on the date that is the third anniversary of the filing of the Protective Amendment with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, (ii) the Board of Directors’ determination that the Protective Amendment is no longer necessary for the preservation of our NOLs because of the repeal of Section 382 or any successor statute, (iii) the beginning of a taxable year to which the Board of Directors determines that none of our NOLs may be carried forward and (iv) such date as the Board of Directors otherwise determines that the Protective Amendment is no longer necessary for the preservation of our NOLs. The Board of Directors may also accelerate the expiration date of the Protective Amendment in the event of a change in the law if the Board of Directors has determined that such action is reasonably necessary or advisable to preserve our NOLs or that the continuation of the restrictions contained in the Protective Amendment is no longer reasonably necessary for the preservation of our NOLs.

 

 

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Effectiveness and Enforceability

Although the Protective Amendment is intended to reduce the likelihood of an ownership change, we cannot eliminate the possibility that an ownership change will occur even if the Protective Amendment is adopted given that:

 

    The Board of Directors can permit a transfer to an acquirer that results or contributes to an ownership change if it determines that such transfer is in our and our stockholders’ best interests.
    A court could find that part or all of the Protective Amendment is not enforceable, either in general or as to a particular fact situation. Under the laws of the State of Delaware, our jurisdiction of incorporation, a corporation is conclusively presumed to have acted for a reasonable purpose when restricting the transfer of its securities in its certificate of incorporation for the purpose of maintaining or preserving any tax attribute (including NOLs). Delaware law provides that transfer restrictions with respect to shares of our common stock issued prior to the effectiveness of the restrictions will be effective against (i) stockholders with respect to shares that were voted in favor of this proposal and (ii) purported transferees of shares that were voted for this proposal if (A) the transfer restriction is conspicuously noted on the certificate(s) representing such shares or (B) the transferee had actual knowledge of the transfer restrictions (even absent such conspicuous notation). We intend to cause shares of our common stock issued after the effectiveness of the Protective Amendment to be issued with the relevant transfer restriction conspicuously noted on the certificate(s) representing such shares, and therefore under Delaware law such newly issued shares will be subject to the transfer restriction. We also intend to disclose such restrictions to persons holding our common stock in uncertificated form. For the purpose of determining whether a stockholder is subject to the Protective Amendment, we intend to take the position that all shares issued prior to the effectiveness of the Protective Amendment that are proposed to be transferred were voted in favor of the Protective Amendment, unless the contrary is established. We may also assert that stockholders have waived the right to challenge or otherwise cannot challenge the enforceability of the Protective Amendment, unless a stockholder establishes that it did not vote in favor of the Protective Amendment. Nonetheless, a court could find that the Protective Amendment is unenforceable, either in general or as applied to a particular stockholder or fact situation.
    Despite the adoption of the Protective Amendment, there is still a risk that certain changes in relationships among stockholders or other events could cause an ownership change under Section 382. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that an ownership change will not occur even if the Protective Amendment is made effective. However, the Board of Directors has adopted the Amended Rights Agreement, which is intended to act as a deterrent to any person acquiring more than 4.9% of our stock and endangering our ability to use our NOLs.

As a result of these and other factors, the Protective Amendment is intended to reduce, but does not eliminate, the risk that we will undergo an ownership change that would limit our ability to utilize our NOLs.

Section 382 Ownership Change Determinations

The rules of Section 382 are very complex and are beyond the scope of this summary discussion. Some of the factors that must be considered in determining whether a Section 382 ownership change has occurred include the following:

 

    Each stockholder who owns less than 5% of our common stock is generally (but not always) aggregated with other such stockholders and treated as a single “5-percent shareholder” for purposes of Section 382. Transactions in the public markets among such stockholders are generally (but not always) excluded from the Section 382 calculation.
    There are several rules regarding the aggregation and segregation of stockholders who otherwise do not qualify as Section 382 “5-percent shareholders.” Ownership of stock is generally attributed to its ultimate beneficial owner without regard to ownership by nominees, trusts, corporations, partnerships or other entities.

 

 

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    Acquisitions by a person that cause the person to become a Section 382 “5-percent shareholder” generally result in a 5% (or more) change in ownership, regardless of the size of the final purchase(s) that caused the threshold to be exceeded.
    Certain constructive ownership rules, which generally attribute ownership of stock owned by estates, trusts, corporations, partnerships or other entities to the ultimate indirect individual owner thereof, or to related individuals, are applied in determining the level of stock ownership of a particular stockholder. Special rules can result in the treatment of options (including warrants) or other similar interests as having been exercised if such treatment would result in an ownership change.
    Our redemption or buyback of our common stock will increase the ownership of any Section 382 “5-percent shareholders” (including groups of stockholders who are not individually 5-percent shareholders) and can contribute to an ownership change. In addition, it is possible that a redemption or buyback of shares could cause a holder of less than 5% to become a Section 382 “5-percent shareholder,” resulting in a 5% (or more) change in ownership.

Required Vote

To be approved, this proposal must receive the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of our common stock outstanding as of the record date for the Annual Meeting. The Protective Amendment, if approved, would become effective upon the filing of a Certificate of Amendment to our Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, which we would expect to do as soon as practicable after the Protective Amendment is approved.

The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the approval of the Protective Amendment. 

PROPOSAL 5 APPROVAL OF THE AMENDED RIGHTS AGREEMENT

The Amended Rights Agreement

On January 27, 2014, our Board of Directors adopted the Amended Rights Agreement, which amended, restated and replaced the rights agreement the Board of Directors had previously adopted on August 22, 2013. The Amended Rights Agreement will expire immediately following the final adjournment of the Annual Meeting if stockholder approval of the Amended Rights Agreement has not been received. Subject to certain limited exceptions, the Amended Rights Agreement is designed to deter any person from buying our common stock (or any interest in our common stock) if the acquisition would result in a stockholder (or several stockholders, in the aggregate, who hold their stock as a “group” under the federal securities laws) beneficially owning 4.9% or more of our then-outstanding common stock without approval of the Board of Directors.

The Amended Rights Agreement is intended to protect stockholder value by attempting to preserve our ability to use our NOLs to reduce our future income tax liability. Because of the possible limitations of the Protective Amendment in preventing transfers of our common stock that may result in an ownership change, as further described above under Proposal 4, the Board of Directors believes it is in our and our stockholders’ best interests to approve the Amended Rights Agreement.

The following description of the Amended Rights Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of the Amended Rights Agreement, which can be found in Annex C to this Proxy Statement. Please read the Amended Rights Agreement in its entirety, as the discussion below is only a summary.

Description of the Amended Rights Agreement

The Amended Rights Agreement is intended to act as a deterrent to any person or group becoming the beneficial owner of 4.9% or more of our outstanding common stock (an “Acquiring Person”) without the approval of the Board of Directors, other than as a result of (x) repurchases of stock by the Company, (y) a stock

 

 

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dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or similar transaction or (z) certain inadvertent actions by certain stockholders. However, no person who, at the time of the first public announcement of the Amended Rights Agreement, beneficially owned 4.9% or more of the outstanding shares of common stock will be deemed an Acquiring Person, unless and until such person acquires beneficial ownership of additional shares of common stock, with certain exceptions. In addition, no person who beneficially owns 4.9% or more of the outstanding shares of common stock will be deemed an Acquiring Person if the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, so determines in light of the intent and purposes of the Amended Rights Agreement or other circumstances facing the Company.

The Rights.  The Board of Directors authorized the issuance of one right per each outstanding share of our common stock payable to our stockholders of record as of the close of business on September 3, 2013. Subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Amended Rights Agreement, if these rights become exercisable, each right would initially represent the right to purchase from us a unit consisting of one one-thousandth of a share of our Series C Junior Participating Preferred Stock for a purchase price of $55.00 per unit. If issued, each fractional share of preferred stock would generally give a stockholder approximately the same dividend, voting and liquidation rights as does one share of our common stock. However, prior to exercise, a right does not give its holder any rights as a stockholder, including without limitation any dividend, voting or liquidation rights.

Exercisability.  The rights will not be exercisable until the earlier of (i) the close of business on the tenth business day after public announcement that a person has become an Acquiring Person (the date of such public announcement is referred to herein as the “Stock Acquisition Date”) or (ii) the close of business on the tenth business day (or such later date as the Board of Directors shall determine) after a third party makes a tender or exchange offer which, if consummated, would result in such third party becoming an Acquiring Person. In this Proxy Statement, we refer to the date on which the rights become exercisable as the “Distribution Date.”

Prior to a Distribution Date, the rights will be evidenced by, and trade with, the common stock and will not be exercisable or transferable apart from the common stock. After a Distribution Date, the rights agent would send certificates representing rights to stockholders and the rights would trade independent of the common stock.

“Flip-in” Feature.  If any person or group of affiliated or associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person, then each right (other than rights owned by an Acquiring Person, its affiliates, associates or certain transferees, which will become void) will entitle the holder to purchase, at the then current exercise price, common stock (or, in certain circumstances, a combination of common stock, other securities, cash or other property) having a value of twice the exercise price of the right, in effect enabling a purchase at half-price. However, rights are not exercisable following such an event until such time as the rights are no longer redeemable by the Company as described below.

“Flip-over” Feature.  If, at any time after a person or group of affiliated or associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person, the Company engages in a merger or other business combination transaction or series of related transactions in which the Company is not the surviving corporation, the common stock is changed or exchanged, or fifty percent or more of its assets, cash flow or earning power is sold, then each right (not previously voided by the occurrence of a “flip-in event”) will entitle the holder to purchase, at the right’s then current exercise price, common stock of such Acquiring Person having a value of twice the right’s then current exercise price, in effect enabling a purchase at half-price.

Exchange.  At any time after a person or group of affiliated or associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person and prior to the acquisition by such person or group of fifty percent or more of the then outstanding common stock, the Board of Directors may, in lieu of allowing rights to be exercised, cause each outstanding right (other than rights owned by an Acquiring Person, its affiliates, associates or certain transferees, which will become void) to be exchanged for one share of common stock or one one-thousandth of a share of preferred stock, in each case as adjusted to reflect stock splits or similar transactions.

Redemption.  The rights may be redeemed by the Board of Directors, at a price of $0.001 per right, at any time prior to the earlier of (i) the Stock Acquisition Date or (ii) the final expiration of the rights.

 

 

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Anti-Dilution Provisions.  The purchase price payable and the number of preferred shares issuable upon exercise of the rights are subject to adjustment to prevent dilution that may occur as a result of certain events, including, among others, a stock dividend, a stock split or a reclassification of the preferred shares. With certain exceptions, no adjustments to the purchase price of less than 1% will be made.

Amendments.  Prior to a Distribution Date, the Company may amend the Amended Rights Agreement in any respect. From and after a Distribution Date, the Board of Directors may amend the Amended Rights Agreement in order to (i) cure any ambiguity, (ii) correct or supplement any provision which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions, (iii) shorten or lengthen any time period (e.g., the redemption period prior to the rights becoming non-redeemable) or (iv) change or supplement the provisions in any manner which the Company may deem necessary or desirable and which does not adversely affect the interests of the holders of certificates representing rights. The Amended Rights Agreement, however, may not be amended at such time as the rights are not redeemable (other than certain limited technical amendments).

Expiration.  The rights will expire on the earliest of (i) the close of business on January 26, 2017 or such later date as may be established by the Board of Directors prior to the expiration of the rights, (ii) the time at which the rights are redeemed or exchanged pursuant to the Amended Rights Agreement, (iii) the repeal of Section 382 or any successor statute if the Board of Directors determines that the Amended Rights Agreement is no longer necessary or desirable for the preservation of our NOLs, (iv) the beginning of a taxable year of the Company to which the Board of Directors determines that our NOLs may not be carried forward or (v) immediately following the final adjournment of the Annual Meeting if stockholder approval of the Amended Rights Agreement has not been received.

Required Vote

To be approved, this proposal must receive the affirmative vote of the shares of common stock present in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting that are entitled to vote on such matter. If the Amended Rights Agreement is not approved by our stockholders, the Amended Rights Agreement will terminate immediately following the final adjournment of the Annual Meeting.

The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the approval of the Amended Rights Agreement.

CERTAIN CONSIDERATIONS RELATED TO THE PROTECTIVE AMENDMENT AND THE AMENDED RIGHTS AGREEMENT

The Board of Directors believes that attempting to protect the tax benefits of our NOLs as described above under “Background to Proposals 4 and 5” is in our and our stockholders’ best interests; however, we cannot eliminate the possibility that an ownership change will occur even if the Protective Amendment and the Amended Rights Agreement are approved. Please consider the items discussed below in voting on Proposals 4 and 5.

The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) could challenge the amount of our NOLs or claim we experienced an ownership change, which could reduce the amount of our NOLs that we can use or eliminate our ability to use them altogether

The IRS has not audited or otherwise validated the amount of our NOLs. The IRS could challenge the amount of our NOLs, which could limit our ability to use our NOLs to reduce our future taxable income. In addition, the complexity of Section 382’s provisions and the limited knowledge any public company has about the ownership of its publicly traded stock make it difficult to determine whether an ownership change has occurred. Therefore, we cannot assure you that the IRS will not claim that we experienced an ownership change and attempt to reduce or eliminate the benefit of our NOLs even if the Protective Amendment and the Amended Rights Agreement are in place.

 

 

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Continued Risk of Ownership Change

Although the Protective Amendment and the Amended Rights Agreement are intended to reduce the likelihood of an ownership change, we cannot assure you that they would prevent all transfers of our common stock that could result in such an ownership change. In particular, absent a court determination, we cannot assure you that the Protective Amendment’s restrictions on acquisition of our common stock will be enforceable against all our stockholders, and they may be subject to challenge on equitable grounds, as discussed above under Proposal 4.

Potential Effects on Liquidity

The Protective Amendment will restrict a stockholder’s ability to acquire, directly or indirectly, additional shares of our common stock in excess of the specified limitations. Furthermore, a stockholder’s ability to dispose of our common stock may be limited by reducing the class of potential acquirers for such common stock. In addition, a stockholder’s ownership of our common stock may become subject to the restrictions of the Protective Amendment upon actions taken by persons related to, or affiliated with, them. Stockholders are advised to carefully monitor their ownership of our stock and consult their own legal advisors and/or us to determine whether their ownership of our stock approaches the restricted levels.

Potential Impact on Value

If the Protective Amendment is adopted, the Board of Directors intends to include a legend reflecting the transfer restrictions included in the Protective Amendment on certificates representing newly issued or transferred shares, to disclose such restrictions to persons holding our common stock in uncertificated form, and to disclose such restrictions to the public generally. Because certain buyers, including persons who wish to acquire more than 5% of our common stock and certain institutional holders who may not be comfortable holding our common stock with restrictive legends, may not choose to purchase our common stock, the Protective Amendment could depress the value of our common stock in an amount that could more than offset any value preserved from protecting our NOLs. The Amended Rights Agreement could have a similar effect if investors object to holding our common stock subject to the terms of the Amended Rights Agreement.

Potential Anti-Takeover Impact

The reason the Board of Directors approved the Protective Amendment and the Amended Rights Agreement is to preserve the long-term value of our NOLs. The Protective Amendment and the Amended Rights Agreement are not intended to prevent a takeover of the Company. However, the Protective Amendment, if approved by our stockholders, could be deemed to have an anti-takeover effect because, among other things, it will restrict the ability of a person, entity or group to accumulate more than 4.9% of our common stock and the ability of persons, entities or groups now owning more than 4.9% of our common stock to acquire additional shares of our common stock without the approval of the Board of Directors. Similarly, the Amended Rights Agreement could be deemed to have a potential anti-takeover effect because an Acquiring Person may be diluted upon the occurrence of a triggering event. Accordingly, the overall effects of the Protective Amendment, if approved by our stockholders, and the Amended Rights Agreement may be to render more difficult, or discourage, a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or assumption of control by a substantial holder of our securities. The Protective Amendment and the Amended Rights Agreement proposals are not the result of any potential takeover transaction known to us and are not part of a plan by us to adopt a series of anti-takeover measures.

Stockholders should be aware that we are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which provides, in general, that a transaction constituting a “business combination” within the meaning of Section 203 involving a person owning 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock (referred to as an “interested stockholder”) cannot be completed for a period of three years after the time the person became an interested stockholder unless (i) prior to such time, our Board of Directors approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the person becoming an interested stockholder, (ii) upon

 

 

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consummation of the transaction that resulted in the person becoming an interested stockholder, that person owned at least 85% of our outstanding voting stock (excluding shares owned by persons who are both directors and officers of the Company and shares owned by certain of our employee benefit plans), or (iii) the business combination was approved by our Board of Directors and by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66-2/3% of our outstanding voting stock not owned by the interested stockholder.

Our Restated Certificate of Incorporation and our bylaws contain certain provisions that may also be deemed to have a potential anti-takeover effect, including:

 

    In non-contested elections, each director must be elected by the affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast with respect to that director’s election, subject to our director resignation policy described on page 1 of this Proxy Statement; in a contested election, directors are elected by a plurality. Cumulative voting is not permitted in the election of directors.
    Stockholders have no preemptive right to acquire our securities.
    Stockholders may not act by written consent. The provisions regarding action by written consent require the vote of at least a majority of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding shares of voting stock, voting together as a single class, to be removed or amended.
    Our bylaws contain advance notice requirements for any stockholder to present a nomination for director or other proposal at an annual or special meeting of stockholders.
    Only the Board of Directors can call special meetings of stockholders and the only business that may be brought before a special meeting is such business specified by the Board in the notice of the meeting.
    Our authorized but unissued shares of common stock and preferred stock may be issued without additional stockholder approval and may be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes.

Effect of the Protective Amendment If You Vote For It and Already Directly or Indirectly Own More Than 4.9% of our Common Stock

If you already own more than 4.9% of our common stock, you would be able to transfer shares of our common stock only if the transfer does not increase the percentage of stock ownership of another holder of 4.9% or more of our common stock or create a new holder of 4.9% or more of our common stock. You will also be able to transfer your shares of our common stock through open-market sales to a public group. Shares acquired in any such transaction will be subject to the Protective Amendment’s transfer restrictions.

Effect of the Protective Amendment If You Vote For It and Directly or Indirectly Own Less Than 4.9% of our Common Stock

The Protective Amendment will apply to you, but, so long as you own less than 4.9% of our common stock you can transfer your shares to a purchaser who, after the sale, also would own less than 4.9% of our common stock.

Effect of the Protective Amendment If You Vote Against It

Delaware law provides that the transfer restrictions of the Protective Amendment with respect to shares of our common stock issued prior to its effectiveness will be effective as to (i) stockholders with respect to shares that were voted in favor of approving the Protective Amendment and (ii) purported transferees of such shares if (A) the transfer restriction is conspicuously noted on the certificate(s) representing such shares or (B) the transferee had actual knowledge of the transfer restrictions (even absent such conspicuous notation). We intend to cause shares of our common stock issued after the effectiveness of the Protective Amendment to be issued with the relevant transfer restriction conspicuously noted on the certificate(s) representing such shares, and therefore under Delaware law such newly issued shares will be subject to the transfer restriction. We also intend to disclose such restrictions to persons holding our common stock in uncertificated form. For the purpose of determining whether a stockholder is subject to the Protective Amendment, we intend to take the position that all

 

 

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shares issued prior to the effectiveness of the Protective Amendment that are proposed to be transferred were voted in favor of the Protective Amendment, unless the contrary is established. We may also assert that stockholders have waived the right to challenge or otherwise cannot challenge the enforceability of the Protective Amendment, unless a stockholder establishes that it did not vote in favor of the Protective Amendment. Nonetheless, a court could find that the Protective Amendment is unenforceable, either in general or as applied to a particular stockholder or fact situation.

 

 

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PROPOSAL 6 — ADVISORY VOTE ON COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

The Human Resources and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors is responsible for establishing and implementing our executive compensation program. The Human Resources and Compensation Committee determines compensation for each named executive officer other than the CEO. The CEO’s compensation is determined by all of the independent directors of the Board. Our executive compensation program is designed to link pay to Company performance and align the pay of our named executive officers with the interests of our stockholders. Because we did not achieve our fiscal 2013 goals, the majority of the fiscal 2013 compensation for our named executive officers was not earned and therefore was not paid. Stockholders are encouraged to read the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section for a more detailed discussion of how the Company’s compensation program reflects our overall philosophy and objectives.

As required by Section 14A of the Exchange Act and pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, we are asking stockholders to vote on the following resolution:

RESOLVED, that the Company’s stockholders approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the named executive officers described in this Proxy Statement in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section and the tabular disclosure regarding named executive officer compensation together with the accompanying narrative disclosure, as disclosed pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

As an advisory vote, this proposal is non-binding. Although the vote is non-binding, the Board of Directors values the opinions of the Company’s stockholders and will take into account the outcome of the vote when considering future compensation decisions. At the 2011 annual meeting, the Board recommended, and the stockholders approved, holding an annual vote on the compensation of our named executive officers.

The Board recommends a vote FOR the approval of the compensation of the named executive officers.

 

 

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OTHER BUSINESS MATTERS

Stockholder Proxy Proposal Deadline

Under the rules of the SEC, the date by which proposals of stockholders intended to be presented at the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must be received by the Company for inclusion in its proxy statement and form of proxy relating to that meeting is November 21, 2014.

Stockholder Business — Annual Meeting

Stockholders who wish to introduce an item of business at an annual meeting of stockholders may do so in accordance with JCPenney’s Bylaw procedures. These procedures provide, generally, that stockholders desiring to bring a proper subject of business before the meeting, must do so by a written notice timely received (not later than 90 days in advance of such meeting) by the Corporate Secretary of the Company. Any notice of intent to introduce an item of business at an annual meeting of stockholders must contain the name and address of the stockholder, and a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record and that the stockholder intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting. Notice of an item of business shall include a brief description of the proposed business and any material interest of the stockholder in such business.

The chair of the annual meeting may refuse to allow the transaction of any business not presented in compliance with the foregoing procedures.

Timing

It is currently expected that the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held on or about May 15, 2015, in which event any advance notice of nominations for directors and items of business (other than proposals intended to be included in the proxy statement and form of proxy, which as noted above must be received by November 21, 2014) must be given by stockholders and received by the Secretary of the Company by February 14, 2015. The Company does, however, retain the right to change the date of the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders as it, in its sole discretion, may determine. Notice of any change will be furnished to stockholders prior to the expiration of the 90-day advance notice period referred to above. Copies of the Company’s Bylaws are available on our website at www.jcp.com or you may request a copy from the Corporate Secretary of the Company.

 

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Janet Dhillon, Secretary

 

 

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ANNEX A

2014 J. C. PENNEY COMPANY, INC.

LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

ARTICLE I

PURPOSE OF PLAN

The purpose of this 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan is to provide long-term incentives to associates and non-associate directors of J. C. Penney Company, Inc., its subsidiaries and affiliates, or any unit thereof, in order to align the interests of such associates and non-associate directors with those of the Company’s stockholders, to motivate associates to achieve business objectives promoting the long-term growth, profitability and success of the Company, and to assist the Company in retaining and attracting the best associates and non-associate directors in retail.

ARTICLE II

DEFINITIONS

“Associate” means any person who is employed, within the meaning of section 3401 of the Code, by the Company or a Subsidiary.

“Award” means an Equity Award or a Cash Incentive Award.

“Award Notice” means the notice of an Award to a Participant in such form and delivered by such means as the Committee or its designee may establish from time to time that sets out the terms of the grant of the Award, including any amendment thereto. Each Award Notice will be subject to the terms of the Plan.

“Beneficiary” means the beneficiary designated by a Participant, in a manner authorized by the Committee or its designee, to exercise the rights of the Participant in the event of the Participant’s death. In the absence of an effective designation by a Participant, the Beneficiary will be the Participant’s estate.

“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

“Cash Incentive Awards” shall mean annual or long-term Performance Awards issued pursuant to the requirements of Article VIII that are expressed in U. S. currency.

“Cause” means (i) “cause,” or “summary dismissal” as the case may be, as that term may be defined in any written agreement between a Participant and the Company or a Subsidiary that may at any time be in effect, (ii) in the absence of a definition in a then-effective agreement between a Participant and the Company or a Subsidiary (as determined by the Committee), “cause” as that term may be defined in any Award Notice under the Plan, or (iii) in the absence of a definition in a then-effective agreement between a Participant and the Company or a Subsidiary (as determined by the Committee), or any Award Notice under the Plan, termination of a Participant’s employment with the Company or a Subsidiary on the occurrence of one or more of the following events:

 

  (a) The Participant’s failure to substantially perform such Participant’s duties with the Company or any Subsidiary as determined by the Board or the Company;

 

  (b) The Participant’s willful failure or refusal to perform specific directives of the Board, the Company, or any Subsidiary, which directives are consistent with the scope and nature of the Participant’s duties and responsibilities;

 

  (c) The Participant’s conviction of a felony; or

 

 

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  (d) A breach of the Participant’s fiduciary duty to the Company or any Subsidiary or any act or omission of the Participant that (A) constitutes a violation of the Company’s Statement of Business ethics, (B) results in the assessment of a criminal penalty against the Company, (C) is otherwise in violation of any federal, state, local or foreign law or regulation (other than traffic violations and other similar misdemeanors), (D) adversely affects or could reasonably be expected to adversely affect the business reputation of the Company, or (E) otherwise constitutes willful misconduct, gross negligence, or any act of dishonesty or disloyalty.

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and rules and regulations thereunder, as now in force or as hereafter amended.

“Committee” means a committee appointed by the Board in accordance with the by-laws of the Company and the Charter for the Human Resources and Compensation Committee of the Board, or any committee of the Board that replaces the Human Resources and Compensation Committee. The Committee will consist of at least three Directors who (i) satisfy any applicable standards of independence under the federal securities and tax laws and the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) or any other national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed as in effect from time, (ii) qualify as “non-employee directors” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3, and (iii) satisfy the requirements to be considered an “outside director” under section 162(m) of the Code and such Treasury regulations as may be promulgated thereunder. If at any time no Committee will be in office, then the functions of the Committee specified in the Plan will be exercised by the members of the Board that otherwise satisfy the requirements to be a member of the Committee.

“Common Stock” means common stock, $0.50 par value per share, of the Company, or any security issued in substitution, exchange or in lieu therefore.

“Company” means J. C. Penney Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any successor thereof.

“Corporation” means J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any successor thereof.

“Covered Employee” means a Participant who is, or is determined by the Committee as likely to become, a “covered employee” within the meaning of section 162(m) of the Code.

“Date of Grant” means the “date of grant” specified in the Award Notice with respect to an Equity Award, which will be a date not prior to the date on which the Committee takes all actions necessary to grant the Equity Award, and, unless otherwise specified in Determinations adopted by the Committee, will be:

 

  (a) for grants of Equity Awards to new hires, the third full Trading Date following the date of public release of the Company’s earnings for the later of (i) the fiscal quarter in which such grant was approved, and (ii) the fiscal quarter in which the Associate’s employment with the Company began;

 

  (b) for grants of Equity Awards to selected Associates under the Company’s Stock Recognition Award Program or any similar program then in effect and to selected non-executive officer Associates for retention, promotion, pay adjustment, or spot recognition purposes, and for other similar off-cycle grants of equity awards, the third full Trading Date following the date of public release of the Company’s earnings for the fiscal quarter in which such grant was approved; and

 

  (c) for annual grants of Equity Awards to Associates, the third full Trading Date following approval of the grant by the Committee.

If the proposed Date of Grant occurs on a date on which Company insiders are prohibited from trading in Common Stock, then the Date of Grant for an Equity Award will be the first Trading Date following the date specified above on which Company insiders are no longer subject to the prohibition.

 

 

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“Director” means a member of the Board.

“Disability” means for any Award subject to section 409A of the Code, “Disability” as defined in section 409A(a)(2)(C) of the Code. For any Award not subject to section 409A of the Code, “Disability” means disability as defined in any then effective long-term disability plan maintained by the Company that covers such person, or if such a plan does not exist at any relevant time, “Disability” means the permanent and total disability of a person within the meaning of section 22(e)(3) of the Code. For purposes of determining the time during which an Incentive Stock Option may be exercised under the terms of an Award Notice, “Disability” means the permanent and total disability of a person within the meaning of section 22(e)(3) of the Code. Section 22(e)(3) of the Code provides that an individual is totally and permanently disabled if he is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months.

“Employment” means that the provision of services to the Company or a Subsidiary in any capacity as an Associate is not interrupted or terminated. Except as otherwise provided in a particular Award Notice, service will not be considered interrupted or terminated for this purpose in the case of (i) any approved leave of absence, (ii) transfers among the Company, any Subsidiary, or any successor, in any capacity as Associate, or (iii) any change in status as long as the individual remains in the service of the Company or an Subsidiary in any capacity as Associate. An approved leave of absence will include sick leave, military leave, or any other authorized personal leave. For purposes of each Incentive Stock Option, if any leave exceeds ninety (90) days, and re-employment upon expiration of such leave is not guaranteed by statute or contract, then the Incentive Stock Option will be treated as a Non-Qualified Stock Option on the day that is three (3) months and one (1) day following the expiration of such ninety (90) day period.

“Equity Award” means a Stock Option, Stock Appreciation Right, or Stock Award.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and in effect from time to time, and the regulations promulgated thereunder. Reference in the Plan to any section of the Exchange Act will be deemed to include any amendments or successor provisions to such section and any rules and regulations relating to such section.

“Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the closing price on such date as reported in the composite transaction table covering transactions of NYSE listed securities, or if such Exchange is closed, or if the Common Stock does not trade on such date, the closing price reported in the composite transaction table on the last trading date immediately preceding such date, or such other amount as the Committee may ascertain reasonably to represent such fair market value; provided, however, that such determination will be in accordance with the requirements of Treasury Regulation section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(iv), or its successor.

“Incentive Stock Option” means a Stock Option that satisfies the requirements of section 422 of the Code.

“Non-Associate Director” means a member of the Board who is not an Associate.

“Non-Qualified Stock Option” means a Stock Option that is not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option (including, without limitation, any Stock Option to purchase Common Stock originally designated as or intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option but which does not (for whatever reason) qualify as an Incentive Stock Option).

“Participant” means an Associate or a Director who has been granted and holds an Award.

“Performance Award” means an Award granted under this Plan of Common Stock, rights based upon, payable in or otherwise related to shares of Common Stock (including Restricted Stock), Restricted Stock Units or cash, as the Committee may determine, at the end of a specified Performance Period based on the attainment of one or more Performance Goals. Performance Awards will include awards of Performance-Based Compensation.

 

 

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“Performance-Based Compensation” means an Award to a person who is a Covered Employee that is intended to constitute “performance-based compensation” under section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code.

“Performance Measure” means any of the following business criteria that may be used by the Company in establishing a Performance Goal:

 

  (a) Earnings Per Share;

 

  (b) Total Stockholder Return;

 

  (c) Operating Income;

 

  (d) Net Income;

 

  (e) Cash Flow;

 

  (f) Gross Profit;

 

  (g) Gross Profit Return on Investment;

 

  (h) Return on Equity;

 

  (i) Return on Capital;

 

  (j) Sales;

 

  (k) Revenues;

 

  (l) Gross Margin;

 

  (m) Gross Margin Return on Investment;

 

  (n) Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA);

 

  (o) Earnings Before Interest and Taxes (EBIT); or

 

  (p) Operating Profit.

“Performance Goal” means any goal established by the Committee or its designee that must be satisfied before a Performance Award will be payable, in whole or in part, to a recipient of the Award. With respect to an Award that is intended to constitute Performance-Based Compensation, “Performance Goal” means the specific target established by the Committee under section 162(m) of the Code and applicable Treasury regulations thereunder that is based on one or more Performance Measures and that must be met before Performance-Based Compensation will be payable to a Covered Employee.

“Performance Period” means with respect to a Performance Award the period established by the Committee or its designee at the time the Award is granted, or at any time thereafter, during which the performance of the Company, a Subsidiary, or any Associate Participant is measured for the purpose of determining whether and to what extent the Performance Award’s Performance Goal has been achieved.

“Plan” means this 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan as it may be amended from time to time.

“Prior Plan” means any equity compensation or long-term incentive compensation plan or program previously established and maintained by the Company.

“Restricted Stock” means any shares of Common Stock granted as an Equity Award that is subject to restrictions or a substantial risk of forfeiture.

“Restricted Stock Unit” means an Equity Award that represents an unsecured promise by the Company to issue a share of Common Stock, or, at the discretion of the Committee or is designee, cash equal to the value of a share of Common Stock, subject to restrictions or a substantial risk of forfeiture.

 

 

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“Retirement” means, unless otherwise provided in a particular Award Notice or specified in Determinations adopted by the Committee, an Associate’s termination of Employment with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries other than for Cause on or after the date the employee attains age 55 with at least 15 years of service, or on or after the employee attains age 60 with at least 10 years of service.

“Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or any successor rule promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act.

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and in effect from time to time, and the regulations promulgated thereunder. Reference in the Plan to any section of the Securities Act will be deemed to include any amendments or successor provisions to such section and any rules and regulations relating to such section.

“Separation Pay Plan” means the J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc. Separation Pay Plan, as such plan may be amended from time to time, and any successor plan or program that replaces the plan.

“Stock Appreciation Right” means a right to receive, on exercise of that right, an amount, in shares of Common Stock, or, at the discretion of the Committee or is designee, cash equal to the value of such shares of Common Stock, equal to the difference between the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock as of the date of exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right and the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock as determined under Section 6.3(a).

“Stock Award” means an award of shares of Common Stock, Restricted Stock or a Restricted Stock Unit.

“Stock Option” means a right to purchase from the Company at any time not more than ten years following the Date of Grant, one share of Common Stock for an exercise price not less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Date of Grant, subject to such terms and conditions established under Section 6.1 hereof. Stock Options may either be Incentive Stock Options or Non-Qualified Stock Options.

“Subsidiary” means any corporation or other entity (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations or entities beginning with the Company, in which each of the corporations or entities other than the last corporation or other entity in the unbroken chain owns stock or other voting securities constituting fifty percent or more of the total combined voting power in one of the other corporations or entities in such chain as determined at the point in time when reference is made to such Subsidiary in this Plan.

“Trading Date” means a day on which the Company’s Common Stock trades on the NYSE.

ARTICLE III

SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

3.1 Shares Available for Awards. Subject to the provisions of this Article 3.1, and adjustment as provided in Section 12.7, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock available for Awards under the Plan is 32,000,000 shares of Common Stock, less one (1) share of Common Stock for every one (1) share that was subject to an option or stock appreciation right granted after January 31, 2014 and prior to the effective date of the Plan under any Prior Plan, and two (2) shares of Common Stock for every one (1) share that was subject to an award other than an option or stock appreciation right granted after January 31, 2014 and prior to the effective date of the Plan under any Prior Plan. The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available for Awards under the Plan will be reduced by one (1) share of Common Stock for each share subject to a Stock Option or a Stock Appreciation Right and two (2) shares of Common Stock for each share subject to a Stock Award. The shares of Common Stock available for delivery under this Plan may consist of Common Stock held in treasury,

 

 

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authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock, or shares of Common Stock purchased or held by the Company or a Subsidiary for purposes of the Plan, or shares available from the Prior Plan, or any combination thereof. After the effective date of the Plan, no other awards may be granted under any Prior Plan.

3.2 Shares Again Available. If (i) any shares of Common Stock subject to an Award are forfeited or cancelled, or any such Award terminates, lapses, or expires, is settled without full delivery of the shares of Common Stock underlying the Award, or (ii) after January 31, 2014, any shares of Common Stock subject to an award under any Prior Plan are forfeited or cancelled, or any such award terminates, lapses, or expires, is settled without full delivery of the shares of Common Stock underlying the award, then in each such case the shares of Common Stock subject to such Award or award under any Prior Plan will, to the extent of any such forfeiture, termination, lapse, cancellation, or expiration be added to the shares available for issuance under the Plan. In the event that withholding tax liabilities arising from an Award other than an Option or Stock Appreciation Right or, after January 31, 2014, an award other than an option or stock appreciation right under any Prior Plan are satisfied by the tendering of shares (either actually or by attestation) or by the withholding of shares by the Company, the shares so tendered or withheld shall be added to the shares available for Awards under the Plan. Each share of Common Stock that again becomes available for an Award as provided in this Section 3.2 will increase the total number of shares of Common Stock available for Awards under Section 3.1 by (i) one (1) share of Common Stock if that share of Common Stock was subject to a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right under the Plan or a stock option or stock appreciation right under a Prior Plan, and (ii) two (2) shares of Common Stock if that share of Common Stock was subject to a Stock Award or a stock award under a Prior Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, shares of Common Stock (a) tendered by a Participant or withheld by the Company in payment of the exercise price of an Option, or after January 31, 2014, an option under any Prior Plan, (b) not issued on the net settlement or net exercise of Stock Appreciation Rights, or after January 31, 2014, stock appreciation rights under any Prior Plan, (c) delivered by a Participant or withheld by the Company to pay withholding taxes related to Options or Stock Appreciation Rights or, after January 31, 2014, options or stock appreciation rights under a Prior Plan, or (d) reacquired by the Company on the open market or otherwise using cash proceeds from the exercise of Options or, after January 31, 2014, options under any Prior Plan, will not again become available for issuance and will not be added to the shares authorized for grant under the Plan.

Shares of Common stock issued in connection with Awards that are assumed, converted or substituted pursuant to an event described in Section 12.8 or a Change in Control or assumed or issued in substitution of awards to employees of companies acquired by the Company will not reduce the maximum limitation specified in Section 3.1 (nor shall shares subject to a substitute award be added to the shares available for Awards under the Plan as provided above). Further, where the number of shares of Common stock subject to an Award is variable on the Date of Grant, the number of shares to be counted against the shares authorized under the Plan prior to the settlement of the Award will be the maximum number of shares that could be received under the Award.

3.3 Individual Award Limitations on Equity Awards. Subject to the provisions of Sections 12.7 and 12.8, the following individual Award limits will apply:

 

  (a) During the term of the Plan, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock available for grant as Incentive Stock Options under the Plan will not exceed the maximum number of shares of Common Stock available for Awards under the Plan as provided in Section 3.1.

 

  (b) During any fiscal year no Participant will be granted Stock Option and Stock Appreciation Right Awards for collectively more than 4,000,000 shares of Common Stock, and Performance Awards with a payout, at maximum, of more than 3,000,000 shares of Common Stock.

ARTICLE IV

ADMINISTRATION

The Plan will be administered by, or under the direction of the Committee. The Committee will administer the Plan so as to comply at all times with the Exchange Act and the Code, as applicable, and will otherwise have

 

 

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plenary authority to interpret the Plan and to make all determinations specified in or permitted by the Plan or deemed necessary or desirable for its administration or for the conduct of the Committee’s business (“Determinations”). All interpretations and Determinations of the Committee may be made on an individual or group basis, and will be final, conclusive, and binding on all interested parties. The Committee may delegate, to the fullest extent permitted by law, its responsibilities under the Plan to persons other than its members, subject to such terms and conditions as it may determine, other than: (i) the making of grants and awards under the Plan to individuals subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act; and (ii) the grant of Performance-Based Compensation. With respect to Participants subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, transactions under the Plan are intended to comply with all applicable conditions of Rule 16b-3. To the extent any provision of the Plan or any action by the Committee or its delegate fails to so comply, such provision or action will, without further action by any person, be deemed to be automatically amended to the extent necessary to effect compliance with Rule 16b-3, provided; however, that if such provision or action cannot be amended to effect such compliance, such provision or action will be deemed null and void, to the extent permitted by law and deemed advisable by the relevant authority. Each Award to a Participant subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act under this Plan will be deemed issued subject to the foregoing qualification. Further, except as otherwise specifically provided in an Award Notice or Determinations, Awards under this Plan are generally intended to be exempt from Section 409A of the Code and the Plan will be interpreted accordingly.

ARTICLE V

ELIGIBILITY

Under the Plan: (i) Awards may be made to such Associates, including officers and Associate Directors of the Company, as the Committee may determine; and (ii) Equity Awards will be made pursuant to Article X below to individuals who serve as Non-Associate Directors of the Company (including any former Associate Participant). In determining the Associate Participants who are to receive Awards and the number of shares covered by any Equity Award, the Committee may take into account the nature of the services rendered by the Associate Participants, their contributions to the Company’s success, their position levels and salaries, and such other factors as the Committee, in its discretion, may consider relevant in light of the purposes of the Plan.

ARTICLE VI

STOCK OPTIONS AND

STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

6.1 Terms and Conditions of Stock Options. The Committee may grant Stock Options alone or in addition to other Awards granted under this Plan to any Associate Participant. The Committee will determine (i) whether each Stock Option will be granted as an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option, and (ii) the provisions, terms and conditions of each Stock Option including, but not limited to, the vesting schedule, the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Stock Option, the exercise price of the Stock Option, the period during which the Stock Option may be exercised, repurchase provisions, forfeiture provisions, methods for payment of the exercise price of the Stock Option, acceleration of vesting, if any, in connection with certain termination events, and all other terms and conditions of the Stock Option, subject to the following:

 

  (a) Form of Stock Option Grant. Each Stock Option granted under the Plan will be evidenced by an Award Notice (which need not be the same for each recipient of a Stock Option Award) that is not inconsistent with the Plan, including any provisions that may be necessary to assure that any Stock Option that is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option will comply with section 422 of the Code. The Award Notice evidencing the Stock Option grant will be delivered to the recipient with a copy of the Plan, and other relevant Stock Option documents, within a reasonable time after the Date of Grant.

 

  (b) Exercise Period. Unless a shorter period is otherwise provided in an Award Notice, each Stock Option will expire and all rights to purchase shares of Common Stock thereunder will cease ten years after the Date of Grant.

 

 

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  (c) Exercise Price and Terms. The exercise price of a Stock Option will be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of the Common Stock on the Date of Grant of the Stock Option and during its term the Stock Option will be exercisable only on the event or events determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Notice.

 

  (d) Limitations on Incentive Stock Options. The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the Date of Grant of a Stock Option) of Common Stock that any Associate is first eligible to purchase during any calendar year by exercise of Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan and by exercise of incentive stock options (within the meaning of section 422 of the Code) granted under any other incentive stock option plan of the Company or a Subsidiary will not exceed $100,000. If the Fair Market Value of stock with respect to which all incentive stock options described in the preceding sentence held by any one Participant are exercisable for the first time by such Participant during any calendar year exceeds $100,000, the Stock Options that are intended to be Incentive Stock Options on the Date of Grant thereof for the first $100,000 worth of shares of Common Stock to become exercisable in such year will be considered to constitute incentive stock options within the meaning of section 422 of the Code and the Stock Options that are intended to be Incentive Stock Options on the Date of Grant thereof for the shares of Common Stock in the amount in excess of $100,000 that become exercisable in that calendar year will be treated as Non-Qualified Stock Options. If an Incentive Stock Option is granted to an Associate that owns more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company (i) the exercise price of the Incentive Stock Option will not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of a share of the Common Stock on the Date of Grant of the Incentive Stock Option, and (ii) the Incentive Stock Option will expire and all rights to purchase shares of Common Stock thereunder will cease five years after the Date of Grant. If the Code or the Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder are amended after the effective date of the Plan to provide for a different rules and/or limits governing Incentive Stock Options than those described in this Section 6.1(d), such different rules and/or limit will be incorporated herein and will apply to any Incentive Stock Options granted after the effective date of such amendment.

 

  (e) Dividend and Dividend Equivalents. No grant of a Stock Option may provide for dividends, dividend equivalents, or other similar distributions to be paid in connection with the exercise of the Stock Option.

 

  (f) Extension of the Term of a Stock Option. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, if, by its terms, a Stock Option, other than an Incentive Stock Option, would expire when trading in shares of Common Stock is otherwise prohibited by law or by the Company’s insider trading policy, as such may be amended from time to time, the term of the Stock Option will be automatically extended until the close of trading on the 30th Trading Date following the expiration of any such prohibition.

6.2 Exercise of Stock Options.

 

  (a) Notice. Stock Options may be exercised only by delivery to the Company, or its designee, of notice, in such form as is permitted by the Committee or its designee, stating the number of shares of Common Stock being purchased, the method of payment, and such other matters as may be considered appropriate by the Company in connection with the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Stock Option, together with payment in full of the exercise price for the number of shares of Common Stock being purchased. The effective date of exercise of a Stock Option (which in no event, may be beyond the expiration date of the Stock Option) will be, unless otherwise provided in Determinations adopted by the Committee:

 

  (i) in connection with a sell order for the underlying stock that is a “Sell-to-Cover Order,” a “Same-Day-Sale Exercise Order,” a Limit Order, a “Good-till” Cancelled Order or the like, the date on which such sell order is actually executed.

 

 

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  (ii) in connection with an “Exercise and Hold” (cash exercise) transaction, the date the requisite funds are received by the Company at its home office in Plano, Texas or such other location as the Company may designate, or by a third party duly designated by the Company at the offices of such third party, in the manner determined by the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Talent Officer, or their respective successors by title or office.

Provided, however, that if the date of exercise, as otherwise determined pursuant to this Section 6.2(a), including any Determinations adopted by the Committee, is not a Trading Date, the date of exercise will be deemed to be the next Trading Date. Further, if an exercise instruction is received after the close of the NYSE on a particular day it will be deemed received as of the opening of the next Trading Date. If a Stock Option is granted in tandem with any other Equity Award, there will be surrendered and cancelled from the related Equity Award at the time of exercise of the Stock Option, in lieu of exercise pursuant to the related Equity Award, that number of shares of Common Stock as equals the number of shares of Common Stock as to which the tandem Stock Option will have been exercised.

 

  (b) Early Exercise. An Award Notice may, but need not, include a provision that permits the Participant to elect at any time while an Associate, to exercise all or any part of the Stock Option before full vesting of the Stock Option. Any unvested shares of Common Stock received pursuant to such exercise may be subject to a repurchase right in favor of the Company or a Subsidiary or to any other restriction the Committee determines to be appropriate.

 

  (c) Payment. Payment equal to the aggregate exercise price for the shares subject to a Stock Option and for which notice of exercise has been provided by an Associate Participant, including an Associate Participant that has terminated Employment, to the Company, along with any applicable withholding taxes as described in Section 12.11, will be tendered in full, with the notice of exercise, in cash (by check) or, unless otherwise prohibited in a specific Award Notice or by law or applicable regulation, by:

 

  (i) the actual or constructive transfer to the Company of nonforfeitable, non-restricted shares of Common Stock that have been owned by the Participant for more than six months, or such shorter time as may be permitted by applicable law, prior to the date of exercise;

 

  (ii) using the net proceeds (after paying all selling fees) from the sale of some (the “Sell-to-Cover Exercise Method”) or all (the “Same-Day-Sale Exercise Method”), of the shares of Common Stock received on the exercise of the Stock Option, or from any arrangement pursuant to which an Associate Participant, including those Associate Participants who have terminated Employment, irrevocably instructs a broker-dealer to sell a sufficient portion of such shares to pay the exercise price and any withholding obligation, as described in Section 12.11, and related fees thereon and deliver the sale proceeds directly to the Company. The value of the shares of Common Stock used in payment of the exercise price under the Sell-to-Cover Exercise Method or the Same-Day-Sale Exercise Method will be the price at which the Common Stock was sold by the broker-dealer functioning under the Sell-to-Cover Exercise Method or the Same-Day-Sale Exercise Method on the effective date of exercise as described in Section 6.2(a). The amount of the proceeds to be delivered to the Company by the broker-dealer functioning under the Sell-to-Cover Exercise Method or the Same-Day-Sale Exercise Method will be credited to the Common Stock account of the Company as consideration for the shares of Common Stock to be issued in accordance with the Sell-to-Cover Exercise or the Same-Day-Sale Exercise Method;

 

  (iii) by surrender for cancellation of shares of Common Stock at the Fair Market Value per share at the time of exercise under a “net exercise” arrangement; provided, however, that use of a “net exercise” arrangement cannot result in the Stock Option being settled either in whole or in part for cash payable to the Associate Participant;

 

  (iv) in accordance with such other procedures or in such other forms as the Committee will from time to time determine; or

 

 

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  (vi) any combination of the above.

On payment of all amounts due from the Participant, the Company will cause certificates for the Common Stock then being purchased to be delivered as directed by the Associate Participant (or the person exercising the Associate Participant’s Stock Option in the event of his death) at its principal business office promptly after the Exercise Date. If the Associate Participant has exercised an Incentive Stock Option, the Company may at its option retain physical possession of the certificate evidencing the shares acquired upon exercise until the expiration of the holding periods described in section 422(a)(1) of the Code. The obligation of the Company to deliver shares of Common Stock will, however, be subject to the condition that if at any time the Committee will determine in its discretion that the listing, registration or qualification of the Stock Option or the Common Stock upon any securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system or under any state or federal law, or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory body is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the Stock Option or the issuance or purchase of shares of Common Stock thereunder, the Stock Option may not be exercised in whole or in part unless such listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval will have been effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Committee.

6.3 Acquisitions and Other Transactions. The Committee may, from time to time, assume outstanding options or stock appreciation rights granted by another entity, whether in connection with an acquisition of such other entity or otherwise, by either (i) granting a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right, as applicable, under the Plan in replacement of or in substitution for the option or stock appreciation right assumed by the Company, or (ii) treating the assumed option or stock appreciation right as if it had been granted under the Plan if the terms of such assumed option could be applied to a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right, as applicable, granted under the Plan. Such assumption will be permissible if the holder of the assumed option would have been eligible to be granted a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation right, as applicable, hereunder if the other entity had applied the rules of this Plan to such grant. The Committee also may grant Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights under the Plan in settlement of or substitution for outstanding options or stock appreciation rights, or obligations to grant future options in connection with the Company’s or a Subsidiary’s acquiring another entity, an interest in another entity or an additional interest in an Subsidiary whether by merger, stock purchase, asset purchase or other form of transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of Sections 6.1 or 6.4(c), in the case of a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right issued or assumed pursuant to this Section 6.1(e), the exercise price for the Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right will be determined in accordance with the principles of Sections 424(a) and 409A of the Code, and the Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder.

Additionally, in the event that a company acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary or with which the Company or any Subsidiary combines has shares available under a pre-existing plan approved by stockholders and not adopted in contemplation of such acquisition or combination, the shares available for grant pursuant to the terms of such pre-existing plan (as adjusted, to the extent appropriate, using the exchange ratio or other adjustment or valuation ratio or formula used in such acquisition or combination to determine the consideration payable to the holders of common stock of the entities party to such acquisition or combination) may be used for Awards under the Plan and shall not reduce the shares authorized for grant under the Plan (and shares subject to such Awards shall not be added to the shares available for Awards under the Plan); provided that Awards using such available shares shall not be made after the date awards or grants could have been made under the terms of the pre-existing plan, absent the acquisition or combination, and shall only be made to individuals who were not Employees or Directors prior to such acquisition or combination.

6.4 Terms and Conditions of Stock Appreciation Rights. The Committee may grant Stock Appreciation Rights alone or in tandem with other Awards granted under this Plan to any Associate. The Committee will determine the provisions, terms and conditions of each Stock Appreciation Right including, but not limited to, the vesting schedule, the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Stock Appreciation Right, the exercise price of the Stock Appreciation Right, the period during which the Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised,

 

 

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repurchase provisions, forfeiture provisions, acceleration of vesting, if any, in connection with certain termination events, and all other terms and conditions of the Stock Appreciation Right, subject to the following:

 

  (a) Form of Stock Appreciation Right. Each Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan will be evidenced by an Award Notice (which need not be the same for each recipient of a Stock Appreciation Right) that is not inconsistent with the Plan. The award Notice evidencing the Stock Appreciation Right grant will be delivered to the recipient with a copy of the Plan, and other relevant Stock Appreciation Right documents, within a reasonable time after the Date of Grant.

 

  (b) Exercise Period. Unless a shorter period is otherwise provided in an Award Notice, each Stock Appreciation Right will expire and all rights thereunder will cease ten years after the Date of Grant.

 

  (c) Exercise Price and Terms. The exercise price of a Stock Appreciation Right will be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of the Common Stock on the Date of Grant of the Stock Appreciation Right and during its term the Stock Appreciation Right will be exercisable only on the events determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Notice.

 

  (d) Dividend and Dividend Equivalents. No grant of a Stock Appreciation Right may provide for dividends, dividend equivalents, or other similar distributions to be paid in connection with the exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right.

 

  (e) Exercise. The grant of the Stock Appreciation Right will provide that the holder will be paid for the value of the Stock Appreciation Right in shares of Common Stock or, at the discretion of the Committee or is designee, cash. In the event of the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, the holder of the Stock Appreciation Right will receive that number of shares of Common Stock, or, at the discretion of the Committee or is designee, cash equal to the value of such shares of Common Stock having an aggregate Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the value obtained by multiplying (i) either (A) in the case of a Stock Appreciation Right issued in tandem with a Stock Option, the difference between the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of exercise over the exercise price per share of the related Stock Option, or (B) in the case of a stand-alone Stock Appreciation Right, the difference between the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of exercise over the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Date of Grant of the Stock Appreciation Right by (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may place a ceiling on the amount payable upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, but any such limitation will be specified at the time that the Stock Appreciation Right is granted and stated in the Award Notice.

 

  (f) Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights. A Stock Appreciation Right granted in tandem with an Incentive Stock Option (i) may be exercised at, and only at, the times and to the extent the related Incentive Stock Option is exercisable, (ii) will expire upon the termination or expiration of the related Incentive Stock Option, (iii) may not result in a Participant realizing more than 100% of the difference between the exercise price of the related Incentive Stock Option and the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock subject to the related Incentive Stock Option at the time the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised, and (iv) may be exercised at, and only at, such times as the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock subject to the related Incentive Stock Option exceeds the exercise price of the related Incentive Stock Option. A Stock Appreciation Right granted in tandem with a Non-Qualified Stock Option will be exercisable as provided by the Committee and will have such other terms and conditions as the Committee may determine. A Stock Appreciation Right may be transferred at, and only at, the times and to the extent the related Stock Option is transferable. If a Stock Appreciation Right is granted in tandem with any other Equity Award, there will be surrendered and cancelled from the related Equity Award at the time of exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right, in lieu of exercise pursuant to the related Equity Award, that number of shares of Common Stock as will equal the number of shares of Common Stock as to which the tandem Stock Appreciation Right will have been exercised.

 

 

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  (g) Certain Limitations on Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights. A stand-alone Stock Appreciation Right will be exercisable as provided by the Committee and will have such other terms and conditions as the Committee may determine at the time of grant and include in the Award Notice. A stand-alone Stock Appreciation Right is subject to such acceleration of vesting rights as the Committee may determine and is subject to provisions of Section 6.5 of this Plan with respect to any exercise rights an Associate Participant may have following a termination of Employment.

 

  (h) Limited Stock Appreciation Rights. The Committee may grant Stock Appreciation Rights which will become exercisable only upon the occurrence of such events as the Committee may designate at the time of grant and include in the Award Notice. Such a Stock Appreciation Right may be issued either as a stand-alone Stock Appreciation Right or in tandem with a Stock Option.

 

  (i) Method of Exercise. Subject to the conditions of this Section 6.3 and such administrative regulations as the Committee may from time to time adopt, a Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised only by delivery to the Company, or its designee, of notice, in such form as is permitted by the Committee or its designee, stating the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is to be exercised. Unless otherwise provided in Determinations adopted by the Committee, the effective date of exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right will be the date of receipt of the written notice by the Company at its home office in Plano, Texas or such other location as the Company may designate, or by a third party duly designated by the Company, in the manner determined by the Company or its designee. If the date of receipt of written notice of exercise is not a Trading Date, the date of exercise will be deemed to be the next Trading Date. Further, if notice of exercise is received after the close of the NYSE on a particular day it will be deemed received as of the opening of the next Trading Date.

 

  (j) Extension of the Term of a Stock Appreciation Right. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, if, by its terms, a Stock Appreciation Right would expire when trading in shares of Common Stock is otherwise prohibited by law or by the Company’s insider trading policy, as such may be amended from time to time, the term of the Stock Appreciation Right will be automatically extended until the close of trading on the 30th Trading Date following the expiration of any such prohibition.

6.5 Exercise of a Stock Option or a Stock Appreciation Right Following Termination of Employment. Unless (i) otherwise modified pursuant to Determinations adopted by the Committee, or (ii) a more generous post-termination exercise period is otherwise provided with respect to a particular termination event listed in this Section 6.4 (A) in any written agreement between an Associate Participant and the Company or a Subsidiary that may at any time be in effect, or (B) in the absence of an agreement between an Associate Participant and the Company or a Subsidiary (as determined by the Committee, or its designee) that may at any time be in effect, in an Award Notice, a participant will have the right to exercise a Stock Option or a Stock Appreciation Right following a termination of Employment as follows:

 

  (a) Termination of Employment with Cause. If the Associate Participant’s Employment with the Company is terminated for Cause, then, notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.4(a), all Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights granted to the Associate Participant, whether vested, exercisable or otherwise, will immediately expire, terminate, or be forfeited and cancelled as of the effective date of the Associate Participant’s termination of Employment.

 

  (b)

Voluntary Termination of Employment and Termination of Employment Without Cause. If an Associate Participant voluntarily terminates employment with the Company, or the Associate Participant’s Employment with the Company is terminated involuntarily without Cause, and the termination of the Associate Participant’s Employment would not otherwise qualify as a Retirement, any vested but unexercised Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights will continue to be exercisable through the earlier of (x) ninety (90) days following the effective date of the termination of the Associate Participant’s Employment, and (y) the Award’s original expiration or termination date. Any Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights that are not vested or exercisable on the effective date of

 

 

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