EX-99.4 5 d897777dex994.htm EX-99.4 EX-99.4

Exhibit 99.4

Remuneration Policy

1. Introduction

We are pleased to present the proposed new Remuneration Policy for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

N.V. (“FCA” and “Company”). The Remuneration Policy has been developed by the Compensation Committee (“Compensation Committee”) of the Board of Directors (“Board”) to, among other things, provide additional information required to fully align with the new legal disclosure requirements passed in the Dutch Civil Code (“DCC”) implementing the European Shareholders’ Rights Directive. The revised Remuneration Policy will be submitted to the shareholders for approval at the Company’s 2020 Annual General Meeting.

The Remuneration Policy covers both executive directors (“Executive Directors”) and non-executive directors (“Non-Executive Directors”). With respect to Executive Directors, the Remuneration Policy is intended to provide a compensation structure that allows the Company to attract, motivate and retain highly qualified senior executives. With respect to Non-Executive Directors, the Remuneration Policy is intended to provide market-competitive fixed compensation that is not dependent on the results of the Company. When determining the Remuneration Policy, the Compensation Committee has taken into account the scenario analyses made, as well as the pay differentials within the Company. In addition, compensation levels offered in the market as well as shareholder and general societal views with respect to remuneration of the Board have been taken into account. The Company follows a pay for performance compensation philosophy at all levels in the organization which continues to be the essence of our Remuneration Policy. The key changes to the Remuneration Policy include clarifying the link to long-term value creation and stating the parameters and limits we follow for each pay program.

The Board is responsible for the implementation of this Remuneration Policy. The remuneration of the Executive and Non-Executive Directors will be determined by the Board, at the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, within the scope of this Remuneration Policy, provided that the Executive Directors may not participate in the decision-making regarding the determination of the remuneration for the Executive Directors.

At least every four years, the Compensation Committee will review the Remuneration Policy and make recommendations to the Board in respect of any proposed changes. This Remuneration Policy can be amended or restated by the Company’s general meeting in accordance with the Company’s articles of association and Dutch law.

A copy of the amended Remuneration Policy is available on the Company’s website, www.fcagroup.com.

2. Purpose, Vision and Values

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is a global automotive group engaged in designing, engineering, manufacturing, distributing and selling vehicles, components and production systems worldwide through 102 manufacturing facilities and 46 research and development centers.

 

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FCA aims to create value through our relationships and connections with customers, employees, dealers, suppliers and communities, among others. We recognize that our environmental and social activities affect not only our aspiration to grow the business but also our commitment to positively affect our world.

Emerging trends, evolving consumer attitudes and regulatory requirements influence not only which products and services we develop, but also how we develop them. The Company incorporates the concept of a circular economy into our business approach, focusing on reduction waste in every link in the value chain from vehicle design through production, distribution, use and eventual reuse of materials.

Our Remuneration Policy supports our purpose, vision and values by aligning pay programs in a consistent manner.

3. Remuneration Principles

The guiding principles of our Remuneration Policy guide our efforts to provide a compensation structure that allows FCA to attract and retain the most highly qualified executive talent and to motivate such executives to achieve business and financial goals that create value for shareholders and other stakeholders in a manner consistent with our core business and leadership values. FCA’s compensation philosophy, aims to provide compensation to its executive directors as outlined below.

 

Alignment with FCA’s strategy    Compensation is strongly linked to the achievement of the Group’s publicly disclosed performance targets.
Pay for performance    Compensation must reinforce our performance-driven culture and principles of meritocracy. As such, the majority of pay is linked directly to the Group’s performance through both short and long-term variable pay instruments.
Competitiveness    Compensation will be competitive against the comparable market and set in a manner to attract, retain and motivate expert leaders and highly qualified executives.
Long-term shareholder value creation    Targets triggering any variable compensation payment should align with the interest of shareholders and other stakeholders.
Compliance    Our compensation policies and plans are designed to comply with applicable laws and corporate governance requirements.
Risk prudence    The compensation structure should avoid incentives that encourage unnecessary or excessive risks that could threaten the Company’s value.

 

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What We Do

 

   

We have a simple and transparent remuneration structure

 

   

We pay for performance and conduct scenario analyses to test the link between pay and performance

 

   

We consider pay ratios within the Company in establishing Executive Directors’ pay

 

   

We use appropriate incentive pay programs to balance the short- and long-term focus and drive the achievement of short- and long-term goals

 

   

We align goals and values organization-wide through incentive pay and rigorous performance management

 

   

We set predetermined stretch goals for incentive pay programs

 

   

We have robust stock ownership and share retention guidelines

 

   

We have claw-back policies incorporated into our incentive plans

What We Do Not Do

 

   

We do not offer remuneration which encourages our Executive or Non-Executive Directors to take any unnecessary or excessive risks or to act in their own interests.

 

   

We do not reward performance below threshold

 

   

We do not have excessive pay programs

4. Benchmarking executive compensation

The Company periodically benchmarks its executive compensation program and the compensation offered to Directors against peer companies and monitors compensation levels and trends in the market as well as in general, international standards regarding appropriate remuneration.

The Compensation Committee strives to identify a peer group that best reflects all aspects of FCA’s business and considers public listing, industry practices, geographic reach, and revenue proximity, with market capitalization considered as a secondary characteristic. Our peer group represents a blend of both U.S. and European companies in recognition of the relevant talent market for our executives. In addition to including U.S. and European automobile manufacturers, our peer group includes U.S. and European companies that have significant manufacturing and/or engineering operations and a global market presence.

The Compensation Committee reviews each year the compensation peer group and potential compensation peer companies that operate in similar industries and geographies with whom the Company is most likely to compete for talent at the executive level. Any changes to the compensation peer group will be disclosed in the annual Remuneration Report.

 

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5. Internal Pay Ratios

When determining the total compensation of the Executive Directors, the Compensation Committee considers the internal pay ratio of the appropriate external benchmark and our position within the external benchmark. In addition, the Company considers increases provided to other employees.

In line with the DCC and the Dutch Corporate Governance Code (‘DCGC”), the CEO pay ratio and the trend is disclosed in the annual Remuneration Report. The basis of the pay ratio comparison uses the Dutch methodology of average employee compensation.

6. Overview of Remuneration Element

The remuneration structure for Executive Directors provides a fixed component as well as short and long-term variable components. In addition, post-employment benefits and other customary fringe benefits are provided. The Company believes that such a remuneration structure promotes the interests of the Company in the short and the long-term and is designed to encourage the executive directors to act in the best interests of the Company and not in their own interests. In determining the level and structure of the compensation of the Executive Directors, the Non-executive Directors will take into account, among other things, the financial and operational results as well as other business objectives of the Company. The Company establishes target compensation levels using a market-based approach and periodically benchmarks its executive compensation program against peer companies and monitors compensation levels and trends in the market.

Non-executive Directors will receive fixed payments only and no variable compensation. Customary fringe benefits may apply.

Executive Directors’ remuneration consists of the following primary elements:

 

Element

  

Purpose

  

Description

Base Salary    Provides a fixed level of earnings to attract and retain Executive Directors   

Base salary is based on scope of job responsibilities, experience of the Executive Director and the competitive market.

 

Company’s policy is to periodically benchmark comparable salaries paid to other executive directors in its compensation peer group.

 

Base salary increases are not guaranteed for Executive Directors and their services agreements do not contemplate automatic base salary increases.

Short Term Incentive – Annual Bonus   

To focus on and drive the business priorities company-wide for the current year

 

Motivates executives to achieve performance objectives that are critical to our annual operating and strategic plans

  

At risk pay, subject to achievement of annually pre-established challenging financial objectives.

 

Threshold, target and upper limit performance and corresponding pay-out levels are set competitively versus peer pay practices for each financial objective.

 

Scenario analyses performed to align short term variable pay to the actual annual operating performance.

 

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Long Term Incentive   

Drive and rewards long term value creation linked to the Company’s strategy

 

Aligns Executive Board and shareholder and other stakeholders’

interests

  

Two components; performance share units and restricted share units both subject to acceptable individual performance.

 

Performance share units: subject to achievement of predetermined performance and market objectives covering a three-year period.

 

Threshold, target and upper limit performance and corresponding pay-out levels are set competitively versus peer pay practices for each performance and market objective.

 

Equity awards granted in 2020 and beyond, will be subject to a holding period of five years.

Post –Employment Benefits    Provides Executive future income security    Customary retirement income and severance benefits consistent with competitive offerings of appropriate peer group
Other Benefits    Provides benefits in line with usual and customary fringe benefit in order to attract and retain Executive Directors    Benefits that Executive Directors typically receive include personal use of aircraft, company cars, personal home security, tuition reimbursement, medical insurance, accident insurance, tax preparation and financial counselling, and tax equalization

 

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Base Salary

As described above, base salary takes into consideration the Executive Director’s skills, experience, scope of responsibilities, and the competitive market. The Company’s policy is to periodically benchmark comparable salaries paid to other executive directors in its compensation peer group. Base salary increases are not guaranteed for Executive Directors and their agreements do not contemplate automatic base salary increases. Salary increases will be made taking into account those awarded to the Company’s wider employee population.

Variable Components

Our Executive Directors are eligible to receive variable compensation, contingent on the achievement of pre-established, operating and financial performance targets. The variable components of our Executive Directors’ remuneration, both short and long-term, are linked to predetermined, measurable objectives which serve to motivate strong performance and shareholder returns and are approved by the Non-Executive Directors. The Non-Executive Directors believe that placing significantly more weight on the long-term component is appropriate to align the Executive Directors’ efforts and the Company’s strategy, long-term interests and sustainability. The Company aims to select stable performance objectives throughout the normal business cycle.

Scenario analyses are carried out annually to examine the relationship between the performance criteria chosen and the possible outcomes for the variable remuneration of the Executive Directors. Such analyses help ensure a strong link between remuneration and performance and serve as a check on whether chosen performance criteria strongly supports the Company’s strategic objectives and are appropriate under both the short-term and long-term incentive components of total remuneration.

In case an Executive Director is hired from outside the FCA Group, there is flexibility to award additional cash if and where necessary to compensate forfeiture of incentive awards upon leaving existing employment.

Short-Term Variable Incentives

The primary objective of the short-term variable incentive is to motivate achievement of the business priorities for the current year. The CEO and CFO are eligible to participate in the annual incentive plan. The Chairman does not participate.

The CEO’s and CFO’s short-term variable incentive is based on achievement of annual financial objectives proposed by the Compensation Committee and approved by the Non-Executive Directors at the beginning of each year. The short-term variable incentive program applies rigorous performance measures to ensure a link between annual payout and Company performance.

 

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Our Methodology for Determining Annual Bonus Awards

 

LOGO

The bonus elements and calculations for the CEO and CFO follow the same philosophy for all Bonus Plan eligible employees, except for the individual performance factor that applies to other bonus eligible employees. When determining the CEO’s and CFO’s annual incentive compensation, the Compensation Committee and the Non-Executive Directors:

 

   

select challenging objectives from those included in the annual operating plan approved by the Board

 

   

determine the weighting of each objective

 

   

review the performance actually delivered to determine the appropriate overall measurement of achievement of the objectives

 

   

approve the final bonus calculation

The targeted incentive for the annual bonus program is determined upon a periodic review of appropriate benchmarks. The CEO’s targeted incentive is 150% of base salary with a range of 0% of base salary if threshold objectives are not met to a maximum of 300% of base salary for overachievement of objectives. The CFO’s targeted incentive is 100% of base salary with a range of 0% of base salary if threshold objectives are not met to a maximum of 150% of base salary for overachievement of objectives.

If upon a competitive review of each compensation element, the targeted and maximum short-term incentives warrant an adjustment to remain competitive, the Remuneration Policy reserves the right for the Board to make such adjustments, which will be reported in the Remuneration Report.

Long-Term Variable Incentives

Long-term incentive compensation is a critical component of the Company’s Executive Directors’ compensation structure. This compensation component is designed to:

 

   

align the interests of our Executive Directors and other key contributors with the interests of our shareholders and other stakeholders;

 

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motivate the attainment of Company financial and other performance goals and reward sustained long-term value creation; and

 

   

serve as an important attraction and long-term retention tool that management and the Compensation Committee uses to strengthen loyalty to the Company.

All employee equity awards, including those of the Executive Directors, are governed by the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. Equity Incentive Plan (“EIP”). The EIP is an umbrella plan, specifying the general terms and conditions applicable to all long-term incentive equity awards. The EIP is an integral part of the Remuneration Policy and is also available on the Company’s website www.fcagroup.com.

When determining the Executive Directors long-term incentives, the Compensation Committee and the Non-Executive Directors, within the scope of the EIP and shareholder authorization:

 

   

select challenging objectives from those included in the EIP

 

   

determine the weighting of each objective

 

   

review the performance actually delivered to determine the appropriate overall measurement of achievement of the objectives

 

   

approve the final equity award determination

The targeted incentive for the annual bonus program is determined upon a periodic review of appropriate benchmarks. All equity awards are subject to acceptable individual performance. The targeted long-term incentive award for the Chairman is 300% of base salary to a maximum of 450% of base salary, for the CEO it is 625% of base salary to a maximum of 925% of base salary, for the CFO it is 200% of base salary with a maximum of 300% of base salary.

For the Chairman and CEO’s equity awards:

 

   

75% of award is performance share units which are linked to approved Company performance goals in line with the Strategic Business Plan.

 

   

25% of award is restricted share units which are linked to continued employment

For the CFO’s equity awards:

 

   

67% of award is performance share units which are linked to approved Company performance goals in line with the Strategic Business Plan

 

   

33% of award is restricted share units which are linked to continued employment

Vesting of all equity awards for Executive Directors is dependent on a three-year performance period. Equity granted in 2020 and beyond will be subject to a holding period of five years.

 

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If upon a competitive review of each compensation element, the targeted and maximum long-term incentives warrant an adjustment to remain competitive, the Remuneration Policy reserves the right for the Board to make such adjustments, which will be reported in the annual Remuneration Report.

Recoupment of Incentive Compensation (Claw back Policy)

The Board is dedicated to maintaining and enhancing a culture focused on integrity and accountability. Employment and services agreements with members of management, including its executive officers, and also the Equity Incentive Plan, allow the Company to recover, or “claw back”, incentive compensation, including the ability to retroactively adjust if any cash or equity incentive award is predicated upon achieving financial results and the financial results were subject to an accounting restatement. In addition, the Executive Directors and each of the Company’s executive officers will repay net amounts received for their annual bonuses, restricted share units and performance share units if, after payment, (i) FCA restates its financial statements for any vesting or performance period covered by the compensation (a “covered period”), (ii) the Board determines that circumstances existed during a covered period that, if known, would have constituted “cause”, as defined in the executive’s employment agreement, or (iii) the executive engaged in certain conduct during the covered period that has been materially injurious to the Company.

Post-Employment Benefits

The Executive Directors may participate in the same Company sponsored retirement and savings programs and health care benefits available to other executives and all salaried employees of the country where they are employed. Supplemental retirement provisions may apply in line with executive level benefits compared to peer companies in the country where employed.

Severance Benefits

In the event of an involuntary termination of employment other than for cause, Executive Directors may receive up to a maximum of twelve months’ base salary, in accordance with the DCGC. If upon appointment to the Board, legacy severance benefit arrangements are in place for an Executive Director, these may be respected upon approval of the Compensation Committee. Payment of a severance benefit is contingent upon the Executive Director complying with restrictive covenants such as non-competition and non-solicitation. Separation benefits may also include prorated vesting of equity awards in the event of death, disability or involuntary termination by the Company unless for cause. In addition, if within twenty-four months following a change of control the, Executive Director’s services are involuntarily terminated by the Company (other than for cause), or are terminated by the Executive Director for good reason, the Executive Director is entitled to receive the applicable severance and accelerated vesting of outstanding equity awards under the EIP.

 

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Fringe Benefits

We offer customary perquisites and fringe benefits to our executive directors, which may include personal use of aircraft, company car and driver, personal/home security, medical insurance, accident and disability insurance, tax preparation, tuition reimbursement, and financial counseling. If as a result of the Executive Directors’ global roles in the Company, employment income arises in multiple countries, the Executive Directors may participate in the Company’s tax equalization policy for globally mobile employees, which provides for tax equalization to the country where the Executive Director is employed.

7. Stock related provisions

Ownership and Retention

Our Board recognizes the critical role that executive stock ownership and retention has in aligning the interests of management with those of shareholders. In 2019, the Board approved stock ownership and retention guidelines for Executive Directors. Executive directors are required to own an aggregate value of shares not less than a minimum multiple of their base salary. Executive Directors are required to meet their required level of ownership prior to February 21, 2024. For grants made in 2020, Executive Directors are required to retain one hundred percent (100%) of net, after-tax shares of Common stock issued upon vesting and settlement of any equity awards granted until the fifth (5th) anniversary of the grant date of such award. If upon appointment to the Board, legacy stock ownership and retention guidelines arrangements are in place for an Executive Director, these may be respected upon approval of the Compensation Committee.

Insider Trading Policy

The Company maintains an insider trading policy applicable to all directors, employees, members of the households and immediate family members (including spouse and children) of persons listed and other unrelated persons, if they are supported by the persons listed. The insider trading policy provides that the aforementioned individuals may not buy, sell or engage in other transactions in the Company’s stock while in possession of material non-public information; buy or sell securities of other companies while in possession of material non-public information about those companies they become aware of as a result of business dealings between the Company and those companies; disclose material non-public information to any unauthorized persons outside of the Company; or engage in hedging transactions through the use of certain derivatives, such as put and call options involving the Company’s securities. The insider trading policy also restricts trading by specified individuals to defined window periods which follow the Company’s quarterly earnings releases.

Prohibition on Short Sales (Anti-hedging)

To ensure alignment with shareholders’ interest and to further strengthen our compensation risk management policies and practice, the Company’s insider trading policy prohibits all individuals to whom the policy applies from engaging in a short sale of the Company’s or its subsidiaries’ securities and derivatives (such as options, puts, calls, or warrants).

8. Terms of engagement management

The Company’s current Remuneration Policy is that Executive Directors are engaged for an indefinite period of time and are employed at will, meaning either party can terminate the relationship at any time.

 

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9. Remuneration Policy for Non-Executive Directors

Remuneration of Non-Executive Directors is fixed and not dependent on the Company’s financial results. Non-Executive Directors are not eligible for variable compensation and do not participate in any incentive plans.

The annual remuneration for the non-executive directors to be paid in cash is:

 

   

$200,000 for each non-executive director

 

   

An additional $10,000 for each member of the Audit Committee and $20,000 for the Audit Committee Chairman

 

   

An additional $5,000 for each member of the Compensation Committee and the Governance Committee and $15,000 for the Compensation Committee Chairman and the Governance Committee Chairman

 

   

An additional $25,000 for the lead independent director

 

   

Subject to taxes related to imputed income, if any, each non-executive director is entitled to an automobile perquisite of one (1) assigned company-furnished vehicle, rotated semi-annually, and allowances on purchase or lease of Company vehicles.

10. Derogation

The Board may, upon recommendation of the Compensation Committee, deviate from the policy if exceptional circumstances provide valid reasons to do so and may only be temporary until a new policy is adopted. Exceptional circumstances are circumstances in which deviation is, in the opinion of the Board, necessary to serve the long-term prospects and sustainability of the Company and/or the Group. This may concern all aspects of the policy. Deviations shall be aligned with the main objectives of the policy applying a consistent approach.

In general, if upon appointment to the Board, legacy arrangements are in place for an Executive Director which are not in line with this policy, these may be respected upon approval of the Compensation Committee. This also applies to the situation where contractual commitments entered into are at some point no longer in compliance with the policy as a result of changes made thereto after granting of the relevant remuneration component.    

Finally, above-market levels of remuneration may be awarded to retain or secure an individual who is considered to have the skill or experience that is critical to delivering the Company strategy.

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