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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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LETTER TO OUR STOCKHOLDERS
FROM OUR EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN, OUR LEAD INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR AND,
OUR PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
April 26, 2024
Dear Stockholder:
On behalf of our Board of Directors and management team, we thank you for your continued support of Kaiser Aluminum Corporation. It is our pleasure to invite you to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs, located at 700 Cool Springs Boulevard, Franklin, Tennessee, on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, at 9:00 a.m., Central Time. While we do not expect to make a separate presentation, we expect our directors and officers to be present at the Annual Meeting and available to respond to any questions you may have.
Your vote is very important to us. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we urge you to vote your shares as promptly as possible. Details of the business to be conducted at the Annual Meeting are included in this proxy statement, which we encourage you to read carefully. You may submit your voting instructions over the Internet or by telephone as indicated on the enclosed proxy card or by completing, signing and dating the enclosed proxy card and returning it by mail in the accompanying envelope. If you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, please review the information on attendance provided in this proxy statement.
We would like to share with you several areas of particular significance in advance of our Annual Meeting and in connection with our distribution of this proxy statement:
2023 PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS
We believe 2023 was a foundational year for Kaiser Aluminum as we laid the groundwork necessary to position us for long-term sustainable and increasingly profitable growth in the years to come. Our focused strategy, unwavering execution and commitment to our customers enabled us to end the year in a solid position with ample resources, including $599 million in liquidity, to implement our growth initiatives.
We reported net sales and conversion revenue of $3.09 billion and $1.47 billion, respectively, in 2023. Despite persistent inflationary pressures throughout the year and destocking in our packaging and general engineering markets, our efforts to lower costs and improve operating efficiencies have been taking hold across the platform. As a result, we reported 2023 net income of $47 million, or $2.92 per diluted share, and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”) of $210 million. Net income and Adjusted EBITDA increased by $77 million and $68 million, respectively, compared to 2022 reflecting strong pricing actions to capture the higher cost of alloys and other inflationary costs in addition to efforts across the organization to stabilize our operations and drive efficiencies. Further, our enhanced profitability enabled us to improve our net debt leverage ratio by over 200 basis points to 4.6x in 2023 from 7.0x at year end 2022, which places us closer to our target net leverage ratio of 2.0x to 2.5x. Please refer to “Appendix A” of this Proxy Statement for reconciliations of measures from generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) measures to non-GAAP measures such as conversion revenue, net debt leverage ratio and Adjusted EBITDA.
We are a key supplier in diverse end markets including aerospace/high strength, packaging, automotive and general engineering with strong secular growth characteristics, deep customer relationships and multi-year contracts with key strategic partners. Throughout the year, demand for aerospace products was very strong and by year-end, our aerospace net sales and conversion revenue surpassed the peak levels we experienced in 2019 prior to the pandemic, which was well ahead of our initial expectations. Our unique ability to flex our capacity at our Trentwood facility in Spokane Valley, Washington
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("Trentwood") to support strengthening aerospace demand as general engineering demand remained soft, further contributed to our performance. In our packaging operations, net sales decreased 17% and conversion revenue and shipments both declined in the high single-digit range as a result of destocking, primarily by beverage related products in the first half of the year followed by coated food products in the fourth quarter of 2023. In general engineering, reduced demand for plate products coupled with increased availability of imports and destocking in general engineering long products pressured pricing and shipments during the year. Importantly, after five consecutive quarters, destocking activity for general engineering long products stabilized during the fourth quarter of 2023. Lastly, demand remained relatively stable in automotive as supply chain issues continued to offset demand, which resulted in an increase in conversion revenue and shipments during the year. We expect demand to improve across the majority of our end markets in 2024.
CORPORATE VALUES & SUSTAINABILITY
Our corporate values of being a preferred investment, preferred supplier, preferred employer, preferred customer, and valued corporate citizen serve as the foundation of our strategic initiatives. Below are highlights of our accomplishments in 2023 and their alignment within our five corporate values:
Preferred Investment:
In 2023, we continued our progress on key initiatives supporting our business strategy while maintaining our disciplined and balanced approach to capital allocation to grow our business in 2024 and beyond, including:
Further, we maintained our corporate governance best practices, including the following key elements:
We also continued our progress on our key sustainability goals, including:
Preferred Supplier:
We strive to be the supplier of choice by pursuing “Best-in-Class” customer satisfaction driven by quality, our broad product offering, superior customer service and on-time delivery.
In 2021, we set GHG emissions intensity reduction goals and have further aligned our disclosures with both the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board framework and Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures.
In addition, we have a number of exciting and impactful initiatives underway at our Warrick rolling mill in Newburgh, Indiana ("Warrick") to enhance our packaging operations. First, our new roll coat installation is progressing well and is on time
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for completion by the end of the year, with production expected to commence in 2025. This is a high value project expected to convert approximately 25% of our existing capacity at Warrick to higher value coated products. To date, we have a large portion of this capacity committed with discussions underway for the remainder.
Further, upon exiting our hot metal supply agreement with the adjacent Alcoa smelter at year-end 2023, we have successfully implemented a new metal input strategy at Warrick. This strategy utilizes a significantly higher mix of used beverage cans and recycled scrap in our mix which will greatly improve our GHG footprint, enable higher recycled product in alignment with customer demands and reduce our metal input costs. Additionally, we are highly focused on the continued transformational project to enable Warrick to source electricity from the local utility company that has a cleaner grid factor than our current source and access to renewable energy.
Our positive demand outlook and recent performance necessitate the need to invest for additional capacity to continue to meet and exceed the needs of our customers. We recently announced that we are commencing the initial investment in our previously announced Phase VII expansion at Trentwood to support the expected demand growth for our aerospace and general engineering products. We expect an initial investment of $25 million to yield an additional 5-6% increase of overall capacity for aerospace and general engineering products which will be the first of multiple investments planned over the next several years; the culmination of which is expected to deliver an expected 20-25% increase in total capacity. The increased capacity is expected to be available to our customers beginning in the second half of 2025.
Preferred Customer:
Our suppliers are trusted partners we work with to ensure our quality standards are met. We conduct these relationships with integrity and accountability, as well as a keen interest in positively influencing their approaches to environmental, social, and governance-related issues. In 2023, we established a stand-alone Supplier Code of Conduct Policy requiring our suppliers to act in accordance with the principles and guidelines reflected in the policy. We also continue to engage with our suppliers to advance collective sustainability goals and support continuous improvement of environmental and social practices.
Preferred Employer:
We are committed to treating our employees with dignity and respect, and we strive to be the employer of choice by promoting health and safety and developing and empowering our employees. In 2023, we maintained our solid safety performance, including improved total case incident rate and days away, restricted, and transferred rate compared to 2022 and continued strong lost-time case incident rate, each of which occurred in a challenging labor market. We continue to focus on leading indicators to prevent safety incidents.
Further, we continued to recruit, develop, promote and retain qualified people from all segments of the population. In the same vein, we are continuing to incorporate diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging education and awareness into training resources and development programs for all Kaiser employees.
Importantly, we sustained our leadership and development training in 2023, including the Kaiser Leadership Program, Kaiser Women's Leadership Program, Front Line Leadership Development Program and Metallurgy Excellence and Technical Strength Program.
Valued Corporate Citizen:
We proactively engaged with our key stakeholders in 2023, including environmental groups, state and local government agencies, stockholders, industry and business peers, our employees and their representatives to advance our management’s understanding of opportunities, issues, concerns and challenges achieving collective improvement in a more sustainable future.
In addition, we continued our stockholder engagement program in 2023 by engaging with stockholders representing approximately 50% of our outstanding shares on a variety of matters relating to our long-term business strategy and performance, operations, capital allocation, executive leadership succession, executive compensation and sustainability matters. We are committed to including the perspective of our stockholders in boardroom discussions and believe regular engagement with our stockholders is necessary to ensure thoughtful and informed consideration of those matters. We look forward to continuing to engage in productive dialogue with our stockholders and other stakeholders in 2024 and beyond.
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Additionally, we participated in charitable outreach, as well as contributions to and sponsorships of community driven organizations and events. We remain committed to further advancing our initiatives in 2024 and beyond.
SUMMARY
In summary, we are very pleased with the hard work and dedication of the entire Kaiser team in 2023. Despite all of its challenges, 2023 was a strategically important year as we laid the groundwork necessary to capture the numerous opportunities ahead of us. Looking ahead, our corporate values will continue to support and serve as the foundation for our strategic initiatives. We will continue to manage our business for long-term success in a manner that we believe is economically, environmentally and socially responsible as a good corporate citizen and steward of capital and resources.
We believe our strategy will lead to improved performance in 2024 and beyond. As demand recovers and our operations continue to stabilize, we will continue to pursue cost reductions in our operations and improve operating efficiencies to maximize our profitability and margins. We believe the combination of our strong market position as a key supplier in diverse end markets, multi-year contracts with key strategic partners, strong liquidity position, and flexible nature of our cost structure, positions us well for long-term sustainable growth. Thank you to our stockholders, our employees and their families, our customers, our suppliers and our other stakeholders for their ongoing commitment to and support of Kaiser Aluminum.
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Keith A. Harvey |
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Jack A. Hockema |
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Michael C. Arnold |
President and Chief Executive Officer |
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Executive Chairman of the Board |
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Lead Independent Director |
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Kaiser Aluminum Corporation
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON June 11, 2024
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Annual Meeting") of Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (the "Company") will be held at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs, located at 700 Cool Springs Boulevard, Franklin, Tennessee, on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, at 9:00 a.m., Central Time, for the following purposes:
Information concerning the matters to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting is set forth in the accompanying Proxy Statement. This notice and the accompanying proxy materials are being mailed or made available to stockholders on or about April 26, 2024.
The close of business on April 17, 2024 has been fixed as the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting or any adjournments thereof.
We urge stockholders to vote by proxy by submitting voting instructions over the Internet or by telephone as indicated on the enclosed proxy card or by completing, signing and dating the enclosed proxy card and returning it by mail in the accompanying envelope, which does not require postage if mailed in the United States.
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By Order of the Board of Directors |
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John M. Donnan |
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Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative |
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Officer and General Counsel |
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April 26, 2024 |
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Franklin, Tennessee |
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PROPOSALS AND BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS
Proposal 1 - Election of Directors
The board of directors recommends a vote "FOR ALL" of the persons nominated by the board of directors.
Additional information about each director and his qualifications may be found beginning on page 5.
Name |
Age |
Director Since |
Primary Occupation |
Independent |
Committee Membership |
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Michael C. Arnold |
67 |
September 2021 |
Retired President and Chief Executive Officer, Ryerson Inc. |
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Executive |
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Nominating and Corporate Governance (Chair) |
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Lead Independent Director |
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David A. Foster |
76 |
June 2009 |
Distinguished Associate of Energy Futures Initiative |
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Nominating and Corporate Governance |
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Sustainability |
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Richard P. Grimley |
65 |
April 2023 |
Former Senior Vice President of Global Operations, Ball Corporation |
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Compensation |
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Sustainability |
Proposal 2 - Advisory Vote to Approve Named Executive Officer Compensation
The board of directors recommends a vote "FOR" the approval, on a non-binding, advisory basis, of the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this Proxy Statement.
Additional information about executive compensation may be found beginning on page 14.
Proposal 3 - Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The board of directors recommends a vote "FOR" the ratification of the audit committee's selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2024.
Additional information about the independent registered public accounting firm may be found beginning on page 17.
Proposal 4 - Approval of an Amendment and Restatement to the Kaiser Aluminum Corporation 2021 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan
The board of directors recommends a vote "FOR" the approval of the amendment and restatement to the Kaiser Aluminum Corporation 2021 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan.
Additional information about the amendment and restatement of the Kaiser Aluminum Corporation 2021 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan may be found beginning on page 17.
PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY
Despite its challenges, we believe 2023 was a foundational year for us as we laid the groundwork necessary to position us for long-term sustainable and increasingly profitable growth in the years to come. This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this Proxy Statement but does not contain all of the information that you should consider. We encourage you to read the entire Proxy Statement for more information about these topics prior to voting.
COMPANY OVERVIEW |
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Leading North American producer of highly engineered aluminum mill products that are part of the carbon solution |
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Focus on demanding applications for aerospace and high strength, packaging, general engineering, automotive extrusions and other industrial applications |
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Integral “pass-through” business model to mitigate the impact of price volatility of aluminum and other alloys |
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Long-standing relationships with blue chip customers – original equipment manufacturers, tier 1 suppliers, metal service centers and beverage and food packaging manufacturers |
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Differentiation through superior product attributes and “Best in Class” customer satisfaction |
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Commitment to sustainable practices remains a critical and integral part of corporate strategy |
2023 PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS |
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Strong execution set a foundation to implement growth strategy |
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Annual net sales of $3.09 billion and conversion revenue of $1.47 billion |
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Aerospace/high strength achieved record net sales and conversion revenue, surpassing peak 2019 levels |
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Pricing, mix and effective cost control drove efficiencies across the platform |
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Continued strong liquidity position of $599 million as of December 31, 2023 |
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Improved total case incident rate ("TCIR") and days away, restricted or transferred rate ("DART"), continued strong lost-time incident rate ("LCIR") |
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Shipments |
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Net Sales |
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Net Income |
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Adjusted Net Income (1) |
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Conversion Revenue (1) |
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Adjusted EBITDA (1) |
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Net Income Per Diluted Share |
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Adjusted Net Income Per Diluted Share (1) |
1.2 |
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$3.1 |
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$47 |
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$44 |
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$1.47 |
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$210 |
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$2.92 |
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$2.74 |
Billion lbs |
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Billion |
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Million |
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Million |
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Billion |
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Million |
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BALANCED CAPITAL ALLOCATION PRIORITIES
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Organic Investments |
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Investments of approximately $1.2 billion in the business since 2007 (~2x depreciation) |
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Long-term sustaining capital of ~60% of depreciation (varies by year) |
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Inorganic Growth |
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Opportunistic investment for strategic value creation |
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Regular Dividends |
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>$513 million returned to stockholders since 2007 |
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Share Repurchases |
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Deployed excess cash beyond recession contingency needs through share repurchases |
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~$474 million returned to stockholders through share repurchases since 2007 |
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
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Diverse and highly independent Board |
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Ongoing commitment to board refreshment - 55% of directors have a tenure of less than five years; executed planned succession of nominating and corporate governance committee chair and Lead Independent Director roles in 2023 |
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Robust and multi-tiered Board and Committee annual assessment process |
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Continuing focus on identifying critical skills needed to support execution of company strategy and board succession planning |
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Continued strong support for proactive and effective stockholder engagement (approximately 50% annually) |
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Rigorous director nomination process, including directors nominated by the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union, AFL-CIO, CLC ("USW") under our Director Designation Agreement |
SUSTAINABILITY HIGHLIGHTS
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On track to meet our 2030 GHG emissions reduction targets to reduce our total Scope 1 and 2 emissions intensity by 20%, Scope 3 estimated emissions intensity by 35%, and Scope 1, 2 and 3 estimated emissions intensity by 30%, each in comparison to 2019 levels |
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Alignment with six of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals consistent with key focus areas and goals of the business to help guide sustainable value creation for the Company |
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Implementation of a stand-alone Supplier Code of Conduct Policy requiring our suppliers to act in accordance with the principles and guidelines reflected in the policy |
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Transformational project to enable Warrick to source electricity from the local utility grid, which gives the facility access to a cleaner grid factor and access to renewable energy |
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Continued diversification of Warrick's primary aluminum supplies to sources with lower carbon footprints |
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Continued optimization of our use of recycled and scrap aluminum, which saves more than 90% of the energy generally required by primary aluminum production |
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Continued delivery of leadership and development training, including the Kaiser Leadership Program, Kaiser Women's Leadership Program, Front Line Leadership Development Program and Metallurgy Excellence and Technical Strength Program |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION |
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Over 80% of CEO target compensation is “at-risk”, with ~60% subject to stringent performance metrics |
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Approximately 60% to 70% of the target compensation of the other named executive officers is “at-risk”, with ~40% to 50% subject to stringent performance metrics |
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Compensation programs supported by best practices and aligned with our strategic objectives and stockholder interests |
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Continued stockholder support for executive compensation (approximately 98% approval in 2023) |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION HIGHLIGHTS
Our incentive programs are designed to “pay for performance,” and it is expected that payouts may be impacted during difficult business/economic conditions. The compensation committee, based on our management's recommendation, did not make any adjustments to our 2021-2023 long-term incentive plan ("2021-2023 LTI Plan") despite the numerous challenges we encountered during the 2021 to 2023 performance period, including unprecedented supply chain disruptions, inflationary cost pressures and labor turnover, which negatively impacted our relative total shareholder return ("TSR"), controllable cost and Adjusted EBITDA margin performance and resulted in no performance shares earned under our 2021-2023 LTI Plan.
As described in further detail in the “Executive Compensation - Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section of this Proxy Statement, or CD&A, our 2023 compensation program was developed and designed to:
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In 2023, the compensation of our named executive officers consisted primarily of the following components:
Because grants under our long-term incentive program are outstanding for three years, at any time we have three over-lapping long-term incentive programs outstanding. The underlying metrics applicable to the performance shares can vary as our compensation committee assesses the effectiveness of our outstanding programs, metrics critical to our long-term success, feedback from our stockholders and compensation trends. The following table describes the performance share metrics (described more fully below) for our 2021-2023, 2022-2024 and 2023-2025 long-term incentive programs:
Performance Share Metrics |
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2021-2023 |
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2022-2024 |
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2023-2025 |
Relative TSR |
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60% |
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60% |
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60% |
Total Controllable Cost |
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20% |
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Adjusted EBITDA Margin |
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20% |
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40% |
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40% |
The compensation committee, working with its independent compensation consultant, Meridian Compensation Partners, LLC (referred to herein as Meridian), reviews, evaluates and updates our compensation peer group, which includes companies in both similar and different industries, at least annually. For 2023, the compensation committee approved a 25-company peer group more fully described in our CD&A section. Due to the differences in size among the companies in our peer group, Meridian uses a regression analysis to adjust survey data results based on our revenue as compared to the revenue of other companies in our peer group.
Pay for Performance
The table below summarizes the performance metrics under our 2023 short-term incentive plan ("2023 STI Plan") and 2023-2025 long-term incentive plan ("2023-2025 LTI Plan") for our named executive officers:
Incentive Program |
Performance Metric* |
Weighting |
Modifier** |
Impact on Multiplier |
Short-Term Incentive Plan |
Adjusted EBITDA |
60% |
Individual |
+/- 25% |
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Safety (TCIR & LCIR) |
10% |
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Quality |
10% |
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Delivery |
10% |
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Productivity |
10% |
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Long-Term Incentive Plan |
Relative TSR |
60% |
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Adjusted EBITDA Margin |
40% |
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* Safety performance is measured using our TCIR and LCIR. Quality performance is measured using our no-fault claim rate. Delivery performance is measured by our on-time delivery rate. Productivity is measured by our earned dollars per labor hour.
** As noted, the individual modifier is discretionary and, with respect to our executive officers, only used in exceptional instances approved by the compensation committee based on actual performance, including individual, facility and/or functional area performance, as well as performance against other strategic initiatives.
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The following summarizes the key features and our performance against the metrics under our 2023 STI Plan and 2021-2023 LTI Plan:
2023 STI Plan
FEATURES |
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Pay for performance |
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Rigorous performance goals based on Adjusted EBITDA, safety, quality, delivery and productivity |
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Strong linkage between performance goals and financial performance as well as strategic non-financial results |
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In exceptional instances approved by the compensation committee, individual adjustment up to plus or minus 25% based on actual performance, including individual, facility and/or functional area performance, as well as performance against other strategic initiatives |
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Maximum payout capped at 2.5 times the target |
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Rigorous performance goals |
The final multiplier of our 2023 STI Plan, including the impact of all performance metrics, was 0.86x. The table below summarizes the performance metrics and payout potential under our 2023 STI Plan and our performance against each of the metrics:
Metric |
Weighting |
Payout Potential |
Final Multiplier |
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Below Threshold |
Threshold |
Target |
Maximum |
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Adjusted EBITDA |
60% |
0.00x |
0.30x |
0.60x |
1.80x |
0.70x |
TCIR |
5% |
0.00x |
0.00x |
0.05x |
0.05x |
0.02x |
LCIR |
5% |
0.00x |
0.00x |
0.05x |
0.05x |
0.05x |
Quality |
10% |
0.00x |
0.00x |
0.10x |
0.10x |
0.00x |
Delivery |
10% |
0.00x |
0.00x |
0.10x |
0.10x |
0.09x |
Productivity |
10% |
0.00x |
0.00x |
0.10x |
0.10x |
0.00x |
Total |
100% |
0.00x |
0.30x |
1.00x |
2.20x |
0.86x |
Annual Performance Award Payouts under Short-Term Incentive Plans for our Named Executive Officers
The table on the right illustrates our annual Adjusted EBITDA performance multipliers for the last three years under our 2021, 2022 and 2023 short-term incentive plans before the application of modifiers for the 2021 and 2022 short-term incentive plans and excluding the impact of the other performance metrics for the 2023 short-term incentive plan. See Appendix A of this Proxy Statement for reconciliations of GAAP to non-GAAP measures.
The final multipliers under our short-term incentive plans, after the application of modifiers, for 2021 and 2022 were 0.65x and 0.00x, respectively. As discussed below, the final multiplier of our 2023 STI Plan, after taking into consideration of all performance metrics, was 0.86x. |
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2021-2023 LTI Plan
FEATURES |
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Three-year performance period for performance shares (2021-2023) |
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Includes retention features by utilizing time-vested restricted stock units |
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Pay for performance by utilizing performance shares subject to demanding metrics |
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Performance metrics: |
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(1) |
20% based on Adjusted EBITDA margin |
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(2) |
20% based on controllable cost |
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(3) |
60% based on relative TSR |
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Payout for relative TSR performance is capped at target if TSR is negative |
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No windfall upon a change in control for performance shares - only shares earned based on performance through the date of the change in control will vest |
We did not achieve the performance thresholds under the 2021-2023 LTI Plan. As discussed in more detail below, for the 2021 to 2023 performance period, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and operational challenges significantly and negatively impacted our ability to achieve the required level of performance for each of the performance metrics under the 2021-2023 LTI Plan. Accordingly, no performance shares were earned under the 2021-2023 LTI Plan.
Annual Performance Award Payouts under Long-Term Incentive Plans
The table below reflects our annual performance award payouts for the last three years under our completed long-term incentive plans, each of which were negatively impacted by a number of challenging business conditions and operational challenges described in more detail below.
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2019-2021 Plan |
2020-2022 Plan |
2021-2023 Plan |
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Metric |
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Weighting |
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Multiplier |
Weighted |
Weighting |
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Multiplier |
Weighted Multiplier |
Weighting |
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Multiplier |
Weighted Multiplier |
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Relative TSR |
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60 |
% |
0.52x |
0.31x |
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60 |
% |
0.00x |
0.00x |
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60 |
% |
0.00x |
0.00x |
Cost |
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40 |
% |
0.00x |
0.00x |
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20 |
% |
0.00x |
0.00x |
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20 |
% |
0.00x |
0.00x |
Adjusted EBITDA Margin |
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0 |
% |
0.00x |
0.00x |
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20 |
% |
0.00x |
0.00x |
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20 |
% |
0.00x |
0.00x |
Plan Multiplier |
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0.31x |
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0.00x |
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0.00x |
Performance Share Award Payouts Based on Relative TSR
For our 2021-2023 LTI Plan, 60% of the performance shares granted to our named executive officers were subject to our TSR performance metric over the applicable three-year performance period compared to the TSR of the other companies comprising the S&P SmallCap 600 Materials and S&P MidCap 400 Materials Indices.
In considering constituents for the S&P SmallCap 600 Materials and S&P MidCap 400 Materials Indices, S&P Dow Jones Indices currently looks for companies (1) with market capitalization of between $850 million and $5.2 billion and between $5.2 billion and $14.5 billion, respectively, (2) meeting certain float requirements, (3) with a U.S. domicile, (4) required to file Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") annual reports, and (5) listed on a major U.S. exchange, among other factors. The beginning and ending stock prices used to determine our TSR are calculated using the 20-trading day average preceding the beginning and end of the performance period.
For the 2021 to 2023 performance period, our relative TSR performance was negatively impacted by a number of factors, including (i) supply chain challenges, such as the impact of the declaration of force majeure by Warrick’s primary magnesium supplier and ultimately the cessation of all magnesium deliveries from that supplier that led to our declaration of force majeure at Warrick in 2022, (ii) molten metal supply issues that negatively impacted Warrick, (iii) the inflationary environment and significant corresponding increases in costs, (iv) a planned outage at Trentwood in 2022, and (v) a challenging labor market. As a result, we did not achieve the threshold TSR percentile ranking required for a payout and no performance shares were earned under the relative TSR metric.
v
The chart below illustrates the performance share award payouts based on our relative TSR performance for the 2019-2021, 2020-2022 and 2021-2023 long-term incentive programs:
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The performance share multiplier is determined by using straight line interpolation based on our TSR percentile ranking within our comparison group based on the table below: |
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Percentile Ranking |
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Multiplier |
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< 25th |
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0.0x |
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25th |
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0.5x |
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50th |
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1.0x |
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75th |
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1.5x |
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Performance Share Award Payout Based on Controllable Cost
For our 2021-2023 LTI Plan, 20% of the performance shares granted to our named executive officers were subject to a controllable cost performance metric that required our company to reduce controllable costs to offset underlying inflation over the three-year performance period to achieve the target payout of performance shares subject to the controllable cost metric. Controllable costs are generally defined as our variable conversion costs which adjust with our product volume and mix plus corporate and plant overhead. Controllable costs also (1) include benefits because we believe that management is required to take actions to influence benefit costs over the performance period and (2) exclude, among other things, major maintenance, research and development and enterprise resource planning costs to ensure that we continue to invest in the future of our company. A 6% reduction of controllable costs after offsetting underlying inflation over the same three-year period would result in payout of performance shares equal to two times target and an increase of controllable costs of 6% or more over the three-year performance period would result in no payout of performance shares subject to the controllable cost metric. The controllable cost performance metric under our 2021-2023 LTI Plan did not include Warrick's costs, as we had not closed the acquisition of Warrick at the time our 2021-2023 LTI Plan was implemented.
For the 2021-2023 performance period, our controllable cost performance was significantly impacted by the same challenging business conditions and operational challenges described previously. As a result, we did not reach our threshold controllable cost performance by offsetting the underlying inflation during the performance period and no performance shares were earned under the controllable cost metric.
Performance Share Award Payout Based on Adjusted EBITDA Margin
For our 2021-2023 LTI Plan, 20% of the performance shares granted to our named executive officers were subject to an Adjusted EBITDA margin performance metric, calculated by our Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of conversion revenue over the three-year performance period. Our conversion revenue is calculated as our net sales less the hedged cost of alloyed metals.
With respect to the 2021-2023 performance period, the same challenging business conditions and operational challenges also impacted our Adjusted EBITDA margin performance. As a result, we did not achieve the threshold Adjusted EBITDA margin required for a payout and no performance shares were earned under the Adjusted EBITDA margin metric.
vi
2023 Total CEO Compensation
As previously noted, the mix of our CEO’s total target compensation is heavily weighted toward performance-based compensation with more than 80% of the total target compensation being at-risk (short- and long-term compensation), more than 60% of the total target compensation being long-term, and 60% of the long-term target being allocated to performance shares.
The market pay analysis performed by Meridian at the end of 2023 reflected that the total target compensation of our CEO for 2023 was 13% below the median of our compensation peer group and that our CEO’s (1) base salary was approximately 3% below the median base salary, (2) short-term incentive target was approximately 8% below the median and (3) long-term incentive target was approximately 18% below the median. While stronger performance in 2023 resulted in a 0.86x payout to our CEO under our 2023 STI Plan, the payout to our CEO under our long-term incentive program was further impacted by the challenging business conditions and operational challenges described above during the 2021-2023 performance period, resulting in no performance shares being earned. As previously discussed, although the payout under our long-term incentive program, including the payout to our CEO, was significantly impacted by the challenging business conditions and operational challenges, based on management’s recommendation, the compensation committee did not make any adjustments to our existing long-term incentive program or the underlying payout.
vii
Kaiser Aluminum Corporation
1550 West McEwen Drive, Suite 500
Franklin, Tennessee 37067
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held on June 11, 2024
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Proposal 2 - Advisory Vote to Approve Named Executive Officer Compensation |
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Proposal 3 - Ratification of the Selection of our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
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Annual Meetings of Stockholders |
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Employment-Related Agreements and Certain Employee Benefit Plans |
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Potential Payments and Benefits Upon Termination of Employment |
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Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on June 11, 2024: The Proxy Statement and our Annual Report to Stockholders are available at www.envisionreports.com/kalu.
GENERAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q: |
When is the Proxy Statement being sent to stockholders and what is its purpose? |
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This Proxy Statement is first being sent to our stockholders on or about May 3, 2024 at the direction of our board of directors in order to solicit proxies for our use at the Annual Meeting. |
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When is the Annual Meeting and where will it be held? |
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The Annual Meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, at 9:00 a.m., Central Time, at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs, located at 700 Cool Springs Boulevard, Franklin, Tennessee 37067. |
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Who may attend the Annual Meeting? |
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All of our stockholders of record may attend the Annual Meeting. |
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Who is entitled to vote? |
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Stockholders as of the close of business on April 17, 2024 are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. Each share of our common stock is entitled to one vote. |
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On what am I voting? |
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You will be voting on: |
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the election of three members to our board of directors to serve until our 2027 annual meeting of stockholders; |
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the approval, on a non-binding, advisory basis, of the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this Proxy Statement; |
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the ratification of the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2024; |
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the approval of the amendment and restatement of the Kaiser Aluminum Corporation 2021 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan, which we refer to as the Amended Plan and a copy of which is attached as Appendix B of this Proxy Statement; and |
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such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournments. |
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How does the board of directors recommend that I vote? |
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The board of directors recommends that you vote your shares: |
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"FOR ALL" the director nominees identified in "Proposals Requiring Your Vote - Proposal 1 - Election of Directors" below; |
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"FOR" the approval , on a non-binding, advisory basis, of the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this Proxy Statement; |
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"FOR" the ratification of the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2024; and |
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"FOR" the approval of the amendment and restatement of the Kaiser Aluminum Corporation 2021 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan. |
1
Q: |
How can I vote? |
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You can vote at the Annual Meeting or you can vote prior to the Annual Meeting by proxy. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we urge you to vote by proxy without delay. |
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How do I vote by proxy? |
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If you choose to vote your shares by proxy, you have the following options: |
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Over the Internet: You can vote over the Internet at the website shown on your proxy card. Internet voting will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, until 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on Monday, June 10, 2024. |
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By telephone: You can vote by telephone by calling the toll-free number shown on your proxy card. Telephone voting will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, until 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on Monday, June 10, 2024. |
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By mail: You can vote by mail by completing, signing and dating your proxy card and returning it in the enclosed prepaid envelope. |
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I want to attend the Annual Meeting and vote. How do I obtain directions to the Annual Meeting? |
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You may obtain directions to the Annual Meeting by calling us at (629) 252-7040. |
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What constitutes a quorum? |
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As of April 17, 2024, the record date, 16,068,833 shares of our common stock were issued and outstanding. A majority of these shares present or represented by proxy will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting. If you properly vote by proxy by submitting your voting instructions over the Internet, by telephone or by mail, then your shares will be counted as part of the quorum. Abstentions or votes that are withheld on any matter will be counted towards a quorum but abstentions will be excluded from the vote relating to the particular matter under consideration. Broker non-votes are counted towards a quorum but are excluded from the vote with respect to the matters for which they are applicable. A broker non-vote occurs when a broker holding shares for a beneficial owner does not vote on a particular proposal because the broker does not have discretionary voting power with respect to that proposal and has not received instructions with respect to that proposal from the beneficial owner. Among our proposals, brokers will have discretionary voting power only with respect to the proposal to ratify the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2024. |
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What are the voting requirements for the proposals? |
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There are different voting requirements for the proposals. |
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Each director will be elected by an affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast with respect to the director in an uncontested election. A “majority” of the votes cast with respect to a director means the number of votes for the director exceeds the number of votes withheld from the director. If an incumbent director nominee receives a greater number of votes withheld than in favor of the nominee's election in an uncontested election, the nominee must promptly tender the nominee's resignation, and the board of directors will decide, through a process managed by the nominating and corporate governance committee, whether to accept the resignation, taking into account its fiduciary duties to our company and our stockholders. The board of director's explanation of its decision will be promptly disclosed in a Form 8-K furnished to the SEC. An election of directors is considered to be contested if there are more nominees for election than positions on the board of directors to be filled by election at the meeting of stockholders. In the event of a contested election, each director will be elected by a plurality vote of the votes cast at such meeting. The election of directors at the Annual Meeting is uncontested. |
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The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of shares of our common stock present or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter and actually voted on the proposal is necessary (1) to approve, on a non-binding, advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this Proxy Statement, (2) to ratify the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2024, and (3) to approve the Amended Plan. If you abstain from voting on the proposal to approve, on a non-binding, advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this Proxy Statement, the proposal to ratify the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2024, and/or the proposal to approve the Amended Plan, your shares will not be counted in the vote for such proposal and will have no effect on the outcome of the vote. |
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If my shares are held in "street name" by my broker, will my broker vote my shares for me? |
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As discussed above, among our proposals, brokers will have discretionary voting power only with respect to the proposal to ratify the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2024. To be sure your shares are voted, you should instruct your broker to vote your shares using the instructions provided by your broker. |
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What will happen if the compensation of the Company's named executive officers is not approved by the stockholders on an advisory basis? |
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Because this is an advisory vote, our board of directors and compensation committee will not be bound by the approval of, or the failure to approve, the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this Proxy Statement. The board of directors and the compensation committee, however, value the opinions that our stockholders express in their votes and expect to consider the outcome of the vote when determining future executive compensation programs. |
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What will happen if the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2024 is not ratified by the stockholders? |
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Pursuant to the audit committee charter, the audit committee of our board of directors has sole authority to appoint our independent registered public accounting firm, and the audit committee will not be bound by the ratification of, or failure to ratify, the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP. The audit committee will, however, consider any failure to ratify the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP in connection with the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm the following year. |
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What will happen if the Amended Plan is not approved by the stockholders? |
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If the Amended Plan is not approved by our stockholders, we may not have the sufficient number of shares to grant equity awards as part of our incentive compensation programs in the coming years. The inability to grant equity awards as part of our incentive compensation programs (1) could make it difficult to retain employees, attract employees from companies that have equity compensation programs and compete for talent against competitors that have equity compensation programs and (2) may compel us to increase the cash component of employee compensation, thereby undermining the structure and objectives of our compensation programs, which include the alignment of the interests of our senior management with those of our stockholders. |
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Can I change my vote after I give my proxy? |
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Yes. If you vote by proxy, you can revoke that proxy at any time before voting takes place at the Annual Meeting. You may revoke your proxy by: |
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voting again over the Internet or by telephone no later than 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on Monday, June 10, 2024; |
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submitting a properly signed proxy card with a later date; |
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delivering, no later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on Monday, June 10, 2024, written notice of revocation to our Secretary, c/o Computershare, P.O. Box 43126, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-5138; or |
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attending the Annual Meeting and voting. |
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Your attendance alone will not revoke your proxy. To change your vote, you must also vote at the Annual Meeting. If you instruct a broker to vote your shares, you must follow your broker's directions for changing those instructions. |
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What does it mean if I receive more than one proxy card? |
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If you receive more than one proxy card, it is because your shares are held in more than one account. You must vote each proxy card to ensure that all of your shares are voted at the Annual Meeting. |
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Who will count the votes? |
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Representatives of Computershare, our transfer agent, will tabulate the votes and act as inspectors of election. |
Q: |
How much will this proxy solicitation cost? |
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We will bear the cost of the solicitation of proxies. We have hired MacKenzie Partners, Inc. to assist us in the distribution of proxy materials and solicitation of votes at a cost not to exceed $10,000, plus out-of-pocket expenses. We will reimburse brokerage firms and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses for forwarding proxy and solicitation materials to the owners of our common stock. Our officers and regular employees may also solicit proxies, but they will not be specifically compensated for these services. In addition to the use of the mail, proxies may be solicited personally or by telephone by our employees or by MacKenzie Partners. |
4
PROPOSALS REQUIRING YOUR VOTE
Proposal 1 - Election of Directors
General
We have a diverse and highly independent board of directors. Our board of directors currently has 11 members, consisting of our CEO, our former CEO and nine independent directors.
Our current directors are:
Michael C. Arnold (Lead Independent Director) |
Alfred E. Osborne, Jr., Ph.D.* |
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David A. Foster |
Teresa M. Sebastian |
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Richard P. Grimley |
Donald J. Stebbins |
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Keith A. Harvey |
Brett E. Wilcox |
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Jack A. Hockema (Executive Chairman of the Board) |
Kevin W. Williams |
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Lauralee E. Martin |
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* Dr. Osborne will retire following the Annual Meeting and our board currently expects to reduce the size of the board from 11 to 10 members at that time.
Our board of directors represents a breadth of experience and diversity in perspective and background, as reflected in the summary of their collective qualifications below. Additionally, our directors have a broad range of tenures, from one year to over 20 years of service, with an average tenure of approximately 10 years. We believe this diversity balances institutional knowledge and experience with new perspectives and ideas.
The table below sets forth the knowledge, skills or board experience, demographics and board tenure of our directors as of April 26, 2024:
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS OR BOARD EXPERIENCE |
Arnold |
Foster |
Grimley |
Harvey |
Hockema |
Martin |
Osborne |
Sebastian |
Stebbins |
Wilcox |
Williams |
Other Public Company Board Experience |
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Public Company CEO Experience or Equivalent |
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Industrial Specific / Operations Experience |
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Mergers and Acquisitions |
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International |
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Governance |
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Legal / Regulatory |
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Financial / Accounting |
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Public Policy / Academia |
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Climate-related Risks |
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Cybersecurity Risks |
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DEMOGRAPHIC BACKGROUND |
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African American or Black |
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White |
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GENDER IDENTITY |
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Male |
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Female |
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BOARD TENURE |
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Years |
2 |
15 |
1 |
3 |
22 |
13 |
17 |
4 |
4 |
17 |
2 |
To see the demographics of our board of directors as of April 28, 2023, please refer to our proxy statement for our 2023 annual meeting of stockholders, filed with the SEC on April 28, 2023.
5
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide for a classified board of directors consisting of three classes. The term of our Class III directors expires at the Annual Meeting; the term of our Class I directors will expire at the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders; and the term of our Class II directors will expire at the 2026 annual meeting of stockholders.
Board Refreshment and Director Succession Planning
We are committed to board refreshment. Currently, approximately 55% of our directors have a tenure of less than five years. The table below illustrates the tenure of our directors:
Board Tenure |
Number of Directors |
Percentage |
0-5 Years |
6 |
55% |
6-10 Years |
0 |
0% |
11+ Years |
5 |
45% |
We thoughtfully plan for director succession and board refreshment. By developing and following a long-term succession plan, the board has an ongoing opportunity to:
The nominating and corporate governance committee also plans for the orderly succession of the executive chair, independent lead director and each of the chairs of our board's five committees, providing for the identification of potential successors, their development and the transition of responsibilities. As a result of the management and execution of our board’s succession plans, a leadership transition of our board’s nominating and corporate governance committee and a transition of our Lead Independent Director position occurred in 2023.
Board Composition and Diversity
Bringing together informed directors with different perspectives and backgrounds, in a well-managed and constructive environment, fosters thoughtful and innovative decision-making. We have a policy of encouraging diversity of gender, ethnicity, age and background, as well as a range of tenures on the board to ensure both continuity and fresh perspectives among our directors. Our directors exhibit a balanced mix of tenures, ages, independence and diversity.
Gender Diversity |
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Ethnic Diversity |
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Independence |
18% |
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27% |
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82% |
Nominees for Class III Directors
The nominating and corporate governance committee of our board of directors has recommended, and our board of directors has approved, the nomination of the three nominees listed below. The nominees have indicated their willingness to serve as members of the board of directors if elected; however, in case any nominee becomes unavailable for election to the board of directors for any reason not presently known or contemplated, the proxy holders have discretionary authority to vote proxies for a substitute nominee. Proxies cannot be voted for more than three nominees.
The Board of Directors Recommends a Vote "FOR ALL" of the Persons Nominated by the Board of Directors.
6
Set forth below is information about the Class III director nominees, including their ages, present principal occupations, other business experience, directorships in other public companies in the past five years, membership on committees of our board of directors, and reasons why each individual nominee's specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills led the nominating and corporate governance committee to recommend, and our board of directors to conclude, that the nominee should serve as a director of the Company.
MICHAEL C. ARNOLD |
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Director since: September 2021 |
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Committee: Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance (Chair) |
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Age: 67 |
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Other Current Public or Registered Investment Company Board Membership: |
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– AGCO Corporation (2013 - Present) |
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DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS EXPERIENCE: |
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Mr. Arnold is retired President and Chief Executive Officer of Ryerson Inc., a processor and distributor of industrial metals, and has previously held various senior management positions with The Timken Company from 1979 to 2010, including Executive Vice President; President, Bearings and Power Transmission Group; President, Industrial Group; Vice President, Bearings and Business Process Advancement; Director, Bearings and Business Process Advancement; and Director, Manufacturing and Technology, Europe, Africa and West Asia (Europe). Mr. Arnold holds a Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a Master’s degree in sales and marketing from University of Akron. |
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QUALIFICATIONS: |
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Mr. Arnold was identified and selected by the nominating and corporate governance committee prior to his election by |
DAVID A. FOSTER |
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Director since: June 2009 |
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Committees: Nominating and Corporate Governance and Sustainability |
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Age: 76 |
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Other Board Membership: |
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– Member of board of directors of Evraz North America, d/b/a Oregon Steel Manufacturing (2006 - Present) |
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DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS EXPERIENCE: |
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Since May 2017, Mr. Foster has served as Distinguished Associate of Energy Futures Initiative, a non-profit organization conducting objective, fact-based and rigorous technical, economic, financial and policy analyses supported by a multidisciplinary network of experts. Mr. Foster has also served as a visiting scholar at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology since May 2019, working on the Roosevelt Project, a multi-year research project focused on energy technology and economic development. |
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7
Mr. Foster was Senior Advisor to the Office of the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy from June 2014 to January 2017. Prior to that, Mr. Foster was Executive Director of BlueGreen Alliance, a strategic national partnership between labor unions and environmental organizations to expand the job-creating potential of the green economy and improve the rights of workers at home and around the world, from June 2006 to June 2014 and an adjunct faculty member of the University of Minnesota from January 2003 to June 2014. Mr. Foster was also previously a director of the USW for District #11. |
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QUALIFICATIONS: |
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The board of directors nominated Mr. Foster because of his extensive labor experience representing the USW; experience with the BlueGreen Alliance which allows him to provide guidance and insight to the board and management regarding labor relations, including with the USW, relations with our hourly workforce, the impact of environmental and regulatory initiatives on US based manufacturers and sustainability; and experience with the Energy Future Initiatives and projects focused on energy technology. Mr. Foster was designated by the USW as a director candidate pursuant to the terms of our Director Designation Agreement (described under “Corporate Governance - Director Designation Agreement”) in connection with our 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2021 annual meetings of stockholders and again in 2024 in connection with the Annual Meeting. However, his experience with our company exceeds 20 years and includes his former role as the primary USW negotiator of our master labor agreement with the USW prior to joining our board of directors. |
RICHARD P. GRIMLEY |
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Director since: April 2023 |
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Committees: Compensation and Sustainability |
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Age: 65 |
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DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS EXPERIENCE: |
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Mr. Grimley has served as a consultant since June 2021 and previously served as Senior Vice President of Global Operations of Ball Corporation from July 2016 to June 2021. Prior to joining Ball Corporation, Mr. Grimley held various senior management positions with Rexam and its subsidiaries, including Global Director of Operations of Rexam Group, President and Chief Executive Officer of North America of Rexam, Chief Operating Officer of North and South Americas of Rexam Beverage Cans, and Vice President of Manufacturing of Rexam. Mr. Grimley holds a Bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Iowa and a Master’s degree in business administration from Benedictine University. |
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QUALIFICATIONS: |
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The Board appointed Mr. Grimley as a director because of his extensive experience in the aluminum packaging industry and manufacturing operations. Mr. Grimley was designated by the USW as a director candidate pursuant to the terms of our Director Designation Agreement in 2023 and again in 2024 in connection with the Annual Meeting. |
Continuing Directors
Set forth below is information about our continuing directors, as well as Dr. Osborne, including their ages, present principal occupations, other business experiences, directorships in other public companies in the past five years, membership on committees of our board of directors, and reasons why each individual director's specific experience, qualifications, attributes or skills led our board of directors to conclude that the director should serve on our board of directors.
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Class I Directors – Term Expiring at the 2025 Annual Meeting
KEITH A. HARVEY |
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President and Chief Executive Officer |
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Director since: 2020 |
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Committee: Executive |
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Age: 64 |
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DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS EXPERIENCE: |
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For information as to Mr. Harvey, see “Executive Officers” below. |
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QUALIFICATIONS: |
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Mr. Harvey’s substantial experience with our company and in the aluminum industry allows him to provide his perspective to our board of directors regarding our business, our industry and the strategic direction for our company based on his years of experience with our company in increasing leadership roles and in the aluminum industry. |
ALFRED E. OSBORNE, JR. |
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Lead Independent Director |
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Director since: July 2006 |
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Committees: Executive and Nominating and Corporate Governance |
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Age: 79 |
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Other Current Public or Registered Investment Company Board Membership: |
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– Wedbush Capital (1998 - Present) |
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DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS EXPERIENCE: |
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Dr. Osborne has served as Professor Emeritus of the UCLA Anderson School of Management since July 2022 and previously served as Senior Associate Dean for external affairs at the UCLA Anderson School of Management from July 2003 to June 2018 and again from July 2019 to June 2022, Interim Dean from July 2018 to June 2019 and Professor of Global Economics and Management from July 2008 to June 2022. Dr. Osborne also previously served as Director of the Harold and Pauline Price Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at the UCLA Anderson School of Management. |
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QUALIFICATIONS: |
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While Dr. Osborne is retiring after the Annual meeting after more than 17 years on our board of directors, Dr. Osborne has served on many boards and board committees of public companies and investment funds over a more than 30-year period. During that time, Dr. Osborne worked extensively on the development of board and director best practices, as well as director training and governance programs sponsored by the UCLA Anderson School of Management. Dr. Osborne was one of the original directors selected by a search committee to serve as a director of our company upon our emergence from chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2006 and was selected because of his public company board experience and governance background. During his service on our board of directors, Dr. Osborne has gained an understanding of our company and the environment in which we operate. Dr. Osborne's experience as a director of public companies, as a member of various board committees of public companies, and as an educator in the fields of business management and corporate governance allows him to draw on his experience and offer guidance to our board of directors and management on issues that affect our company, including governance and board best practices. |
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TERESA M. SEBASTIAN |
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Director Since: June 2019 |
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Committees: Audit, Nominating and Corporate Governance and Sustainability |
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Age: 66 |
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Other Current Public or Registered Investment Company Board Membership: |
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– The AES Corporation (January 2021 – Present) |
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DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS EXPERIENCE: |
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Ms. Sebastian has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of The Dominion Asset Group, an angel investment and consulting firm, since June 2015, an adjunct professor for accounting and enterprise risk management at Vanderbilt Law School since August 2017, and an adjunct professor for governance and compliance at the University of Michigan Law School since August 2016. Ms. Sebastian was previously the Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and Internal Audit executive leader, of Darden Restaurants, Inc., a publicly held multi-brand restaurant operator, from October 2010 to March 2015. |
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Before joining Darden Restaurants, Ms. Sebastian served as Vice President at Veyance Technologies, Inc., a manufacturer and marketer of engineered rubber products, Senior Vice President at Information Resources, Inc., a provider of information, analytics and insights, and held leadership roles in senior management in two regulated companies, DTE Energy Company, and CMS Energy Corporation. She also held positions in financial analysis at Michigan Consolidated Gas Co., Morgan Stanley, and Bank of America. Ms. Sebastian is NACD Directorship Certified®. |
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QUALIFICATIONS: |
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The board of directors nominated Ms. Sebastian because of her broad experience and background in management, expertise in corporate governance and matters relating to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, risk management and compliance, and experience in a wide variety of industries, including manufacturing, finance and data technology. Ms. Sebastian has significant experience in public and private company capital raising, mergers and acquisitions, and global transactions. Her service as a board member of a private company, chair of an audit committee for one of the largest non-profits in the U.S., internal audit executive leadership experience and accounting and financial background reinforce her qualification as an audit committee financial expert, ability to understand our financial statements and ability to provide guidance and insight to our board of directors and management regarding business, risk management, accounting and financial issues. Ms. Sebastian was designated by the USW as a director candidate pursuant to the terms of our Director Designation Agreement in connection with our 2022 annual meeting of stockholders. |
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DONALD J. STEBBINS |
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Director Since: June 2019 |
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Committees: Compensation (Chair), Executive, and Nominating and Corporate Governance |
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Age: 66 |
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Other Current Public or Registered Investment Company Board Membership: |
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– Snap-on Tools (2015 - Present) |
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DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS EXPERIENCE: |
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Mr. Stebbins served as President and Chief Executive Officer, and also as a director, of Superior Industries International, Inc. ("Superior"), a manufacturer of aluminum wheels for the automotive industry, from May 2014 to December 2018. For two years prior to joining Superior, Mr. Stebbins provided consulting services to various private equity firms. Mr. Stebbins previously served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Visteon Corporation, an automotive components manufacturer, from 2008 until 2012, after having served as Visteon’s President and Chief Operating Officer prior to that time. Before joining Visteon, Mr. Stebbins held various positions with increasing responsibility at Lear Corporation, a supplier of automotive seating and electrical distribution systems, including President and Chief Operating Officer–Europe, Asia and Africa, President and Chief Operating Officer–Americas, and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Stebbins holds a Bachelor of Science degree in finance from Miami University and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Michigan. |
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QUALIFICATIONS: |
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The board of directors nominated Mr. Stebbins because of his board and chief executive officer experience and, among his other qualifications, his experience and expertise in the automotive industry, international business, manufacturing, sales, product innovation/development, operations, accounting and finance (including as a chief financial officer), mergers and acquisitions, strategy development, executive compensation and leadership development. |
Class II Directors – Term Expiring at the 2026 Annual Meeting
JACK A. HOCKEMA |
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Executive Chairman of the Board |
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Director since: 2001 |
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Committee: Executive (Chair) |
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Age: 77 |
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DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS EXPERIENCE: |
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Mr. Hockema has served as Executive Chairman of the Board since July 2020 and a director since 2001. Mr. Hockema served as our CEO from 2001 to July 2020 and remains an employee of our company following his transition to Executive Chairman. Mr. Hockema also served as Chairman of the Board from July 2006 to July 2020. He previously served as President of our company from October 2001 to December 2015, as Executive Vice President of our company and President of the Kaiser Fabricated Products division from January 2000 to October 2001, and as Executive Vice President of our company from May 2000 to October 2001. He served as Vice President of our company from May 1997 to May 2000. Mr. Hockema was President of Kaiser Engineered Products from March 1997 to January 2000. He served as President of our company Extruded Products and Engineered Components from September 1996 to March 1997. Mr. Hockema served as a consultant to our company and acting President of Kaiser Engineered Components from September 1995 to September 1996. Mr. Hockema was an employee of our company from 1977 to 1982, working at Trentwood and serving as plant manager of our former Union City, California can plant and as operations manager for Kaiser Extruded Products. In 1982, Mr. Hockema left our |
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company to become Vice President and General Manager of Bohn Extruded Products, a division of Gulf+Western, and later served as Group Vice President of American Brass Specialty Products until June 1992. From June 1992 to September 1996, Mr. Hockema provided consulting and investment advisory services to individuals and companies in the metals industry. He holds a Master of Science degree in Management and a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering, both from Purdue University. |
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QUALIFICATIONS: |
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Mr. Hockema has more than 30 years of experience with our company and more than 50 years in the metals industries, and, as a result, has a depth of experience in the aluminum and metals industries. Mr. Hockema's substantial experience with our company and in the metals industry allows him to provide a unique perspective to our board of directors regarding our business and strategic direction for our company. |
LAURALEE E. MARTIN |
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Director since: September 2010 |
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Committees: Audit (Chair), Compensation, Executive and Sustainability |
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Age: 73 |
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Other Current Public or Registered Investment Company Board Membership: |
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– Marcus & Millichap, Inc. (August 2019 - Present) |
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– Beacon Capital Management (November 2021 - Present) |
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DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS EXPERIENCE: |
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Ms. Martin served as Chief Executive Officer and President of HCP, Inc., a real estate investment trust focusing on properties serving the healthcare industry, from October 2013 to July 2016. Prior to joining HCP, Inc., Ms. Martin served as Chief Executive Officer of the Americas Division of Jones Lang LaSalle, Inc., a financial and professional services firm specializing in real estate services and investment management, from January 2013 to October 2013. She served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Jones Lang LaSalle from January 2002 and was appointed Chief Operating and Financial Officer in October 2005 and served in that capacity until January 2013. She joined Jones Lang LaSalle after 15 years with Heller Financial, Inc., a commercial finance company with international operations, where she was Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Senior Group President, and President of the Real Estate group. Prior to joining Heller Financial, Ms. Martin held certain senior management positions with General Electric Credit Corporation. |
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QUALIFICATIONS: |
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Having served as both the Chief Financial Officer and the head of the real estate lending group at Heller Financial and having served as the Chief Operating and Financial Officer for Jones Lang LaSalle for more than seven and 12 years, respectively, as well as having served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Americas division of Jones Lang LaSalle, Inc. and being the Chief Executive Officer of HCP, Inc., Ms. Martin has significant experience in all aspects of corporate financial and operational matters, including the oversight of complex financial, accounting and corporate infrastructure functions. Her service as a member of the boards of directors of two real estate investment trusts and a major bank holding company have reinforced those qualifications and also have deepened her expertise in corporate governance and matters relating to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Ms. Martin also has a deep foundation in evaluating acquisition opportunities, managing banking relationships and investor relations. Ms. Martin's experience and background, qualification as an audit committee financial expert, and understanding of our company's financial statements allow her to provide guidance and insight to our board of directors and management regarding business, strategic, accounting and financial issues. |
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BRETT E. WILCOX |
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Director since: July 2006 |
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Committees: Audit, Compensation, Executive and Sustainability (Chair) |
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Age: 70 |
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DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS EXPERIENCE: |
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Mr. Wilcox has served as Chief Executive Officer of Cvictus, a Canadian company developing a single cell protein and related production process to substitute for soybean meal and fishmeal in animal feed, since September 2018 and has been an active investor in, on the board of directors of, or an executive consultant for, a number of metals and energy companies since 2005. From June 2005 to December 2011, Mr. Wilcox served as Chief Executive Officer of Summit Power Alternative Resources where he managed the development of wind generation and new energy technologies. Prior to that, Mr. Wilcox served as: Chief Executive Officer of Golden Northwest Aluminum Company and its predecessors. Mr. Wilcox has also served as Executive Director of Direct Services Industries, Inc., a trade association of large aluminum and other energy-intensive companies; an attorney with Preston, Ellis & Gates in Seattle, Washington; Vice Chairman of the Oregon Progress Board; Chairman of the Oregon Economic and Community Development Commission; a member of the Oregon Governor's Comprehensive Review of the Northwest Regional Power System; and a member of the Oregon Governor's Task Forces on structure and efficiency of state government, employee benefits and compensation, and government performance and accountability. |
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QUALIFICATIONS: |
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Mr. Wilcox was selected by the search committee to serve as a director of our company upon our emergence from chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2006 because of his business and financial background and experience, including his experience as the Chief Executive Officer of Golden Northwest Aluminum Company and its predecessors, his experience working successfully with the USW and his experience in the power industries, and because of his qualification as an audit committee financial expert. Mr. Wilcox was designated by the USW as a director candidate in connection with the search process, and, pursuant to the terms of the Director Designation Agreement, was designated by the USW as a director candidate in connection with our 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017 and 2020 annual meetings of stockholders. Mr. Wilcox's experience as a chief executive officer, his financial expertise, his experience in the aluminum and energy industries, and his working relationship with the USW allow him to offer guidance and insight to our board of directors and management on business, finance, strategic and labor issues. |
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KEVIN W. WILLIAMS |
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Director since: September 2021 |
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Committee: Audit and Compensation |
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Age: 62 |
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DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS EXPERIENCE: |
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Mr. Williams has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of GAA Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management, a third-party logistics and supply chain management company and one of the country's largest African American-owned businesses, since August 2018. Mr. Williams previously served as President and Managing Director of General Motors of Canada Limited and Vice President and General Manager, Global Service and Parts Operations of General Motors Company. Mr. Williams also held several other senior global roles at GM including chairman, president and managing director of GM de Mexico, Central America and the Cayman Islands; and global executive director of supplier quality and development for GM Worldwide and GM Europe among other assignments. Mr. Williams holds a Bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from Tennessee State University and a Master of Science degree in business administration and management from Central Michigan University. |
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QUALIFICATIONS: |
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The board of directors nominated Mr. Williams to our board because of his extensive manufacturing, automotive and supply chain management expertise as well as experience in labor relations. |
Proposal 2 - Advisory Vote to Approve Named Executive Officer Compensation
In accordance with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, or the Dodd-Frank Act, and Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, referred to herein as the Exchange Act, we ask stockholders to vote annually on a non-binding, advisory resolution to approve our named executive officer compensation. The vote is not intended to address any specific component of our executive compensation program, but rather the overall compensation of our named executive officers as described in this Proxy Statement. The text of the resolution is as follows:
RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to the named executive officers of Kaiser Aluminum Corporation, as described in the proxy statement for the Company's 2024 annual meeting of stockholders pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K (which disclosure includes the "Executive Compensation - Compensation Discussion and Analysis" section and the Summary Compensation Table and other compensation tables and related narrative discussions), is hereby APPROVED.
While stronger performance in 2023 resulted in a 0.86x payout under our 2023 STI Plan, the challenging business conditions and operational challenges during the 2021-2023 performance period negatively impacted our financial and relative TSR performance during that time period and resulted in no performance shares earned under our 2021-2023 LTI Plan. Despite these conditions and challenges, the compensation committee, based on our management's recommendation, did not make any adjustments to our existing incentive programs. Our incentive programs are designed to “pay for performance,” and it is expected that payouts may be impacted during difficult business/economic conditions. Accordingly, we determined that it was appropriate to maintain our existing incentive programs without adjustments that would otherwise mitigate the impact of the challenges we experienced on the payouts under our incentive plans.
As described in further detail in the CD&A section, our compensation structure was developed to achieve the following objectives, which we believe are critical for enhancing stockholder value and our long-term success and sustainability:
The compensation committee reviewed our compensation program for 2023. The review included consideration of stockholder feedback, including approval of prior advisory votes to approve our named executive officer compensation, and discussions with Meridian and management regarding existing and contemplated market practices, as well as the structure and objectives of each component of our compensation. Upon completion of that review, the compensation committee
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determined that the compensation of our named executive officers in 2023 would consist primarily of the following components:
The compensation committee, working with Meridian, reviews, evaluates and updates our compensation peer group, which includes companies in both similar and different industries, at least annually. For 2023, the compensation committee approved a 25-company peer group more fully described in our CD&A section. As of November 2022, the new custom peer group had (1) market capitalization ranging from approximately $651 million to approximately $15.8 billion and a median market capitalization of approximately $3.7 billion, and (2) trailing 12 months revenues ranging from $2.0 billion to approximately $9.2 billion and median revenue of approximately $4.1 billion. Our market capitalization and revenue, both as of December 31, 2022, were $1.2 billion and $3.4 billion, respectively. Due to the differences in size among the companies in our peer group, Meridian uses a regression analysis to adjust survey data results based on our revenue as compared to the revenue of other companies in our peer group.
We no longer maintain a defined benefit pension plan or retiree medical program that covers members of senior management. Retirement benefits to our senior management, including our named executive officers, are provided through a defined contribution retirement program consisting of a 401(k) plan (which we refer to as our Savings Plan) and a nonqualified and unsecured deferred compensation plan (which we refer to as our Restoration Plan) intended to restore benefits that would be payable to designated participants in our Savings Plan but for the limitations on benefit accruals and payments imposed by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (referred herein as the Code).
For 2023, over 80% of the target total compensation of our CEO and approximately 60% to 70% of the target total compensation of our other named executive officers, consisted of at-risk compensation, which we define as compensation that either (1) will be realized, if at all, only if certain performance levels are achieved as in the case of our annual short-term incentive and the portion of our long-term incentive consisting of performance shares or (2) is time-based as in the case of the portion of our long-term incentive compensation consisting of restricted stock units.
Our compensation structure also supports our corporate governance practices, which further align the interests of senior management and our stockholders. The table below sets forth the best practice compensation features we have adopted as of 2023.
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Best Practice Compensation Features
What We Do |
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What We Don't Do |
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DO align pay and performance by linking a significant portion of total compensation to company performance, including financial, safety, quality, delivery and cost performance, as well as individual performance |
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NO compensation or incentives that encourage unnecessary or excessive risk taking |
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DO balance both short-term (one-year) and long-term (three-year) performance across our incentive programs |
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NO repricing or buyout of "underwater" stock options or appreciation rights without stockholder approval |
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DO enhance retention with time-based, three-year cliff vesting for restricted stock unit awards |
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NO pledging of our securities |
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DO subject the vesting of 60% of long-term incentive awards to performance targets based on relative TSR and Adjusted EBITDA margin, each over a three-year performance period |
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NO hedging or speculative transactions involving our securities |
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DO maintain rigorous stock ownership guidelines (6x base salary/base retainer for CEO and non-employee directors and 3x for other executive officers) |
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NO guaranteed payout for cash incentive compensation |
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DO maintain a clawback policy for both equity and cash awards in addition to a clawback policy required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act ("Dodd-Frank") and Nasdaq listing standards |
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NO excessive perquisites or other benefits |
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DO cap payouts for awards under both our short-and long-term incentive plans |
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NO evergreen equity plan provisions |
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DO appoint a compensation committee comprised solely of independent directors |
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NO dividend equivalents on unearned performance shares |
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DO use an independent compensation consultant |
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NO gross-up payments |
We believe our incentive compensation programs are designed to demand continuous improvement. We also believe that design emphasizing the importance of successful execution of each of our six key strategic initiatives is important to our long-term success and aligns the interests of our named executive officers with our stockholders. Our key strategic initiatives are to:
We urge our stockholders to review our CD&A which describes our compensation philosophy and programs in detail and to approve the compensation of our named executive officers. While this vote to approve our named executive officer compensation is non-binding and solely advisory in nature, our board of directors and the compensation committee value the opinions of our stockholders and expect to consider the outcome of the vote when determining future executive compensation programs. We hold this advisory vote to approve our named executive officer compensation on an annual basis, and the next such vote is expected to be conducted at our 2025 annual meeting.
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The board of directors recommends a vote "FOR" the approval, on a non-binding, advisory basis, of the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this Proxy Statement.
Proposal 3 - Ratification of the Selection of our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Pursuant to the audit committee charter, the audit committee has the sole authority to retain an independent registered public accounting firm for our company. The board of directors requests that the stockholders ratify the audit committee's selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2024.
The audit committee will not be bound by the ratification of, or failure to ratify, the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP, but the audit committee will consider any failure to ratify the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP in connection with the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm for 2025.
The board of directors recommends a vote "FOR" the ratification of the audit committee's selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2024.
Proposal 4 - Approval of the Amendment and Restatement of the Kaiser Aluminum Corporation 2021 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan
General
We are asking stockholders to approve the amendment and restatement of the Kaiser Aluminum Corporation 2021 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan. On April 23, 2024, upon recommendation by the compensation committee of our board of directors, our board of directors unanimously approved and adopted, subject to the approval of our stockholders at the 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”), the amendment and restatement of the Kaiser Aluminum Corporation 2021 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan. In this proposal, we refer to the original Kaiser Aluminum Corporation 2021 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan as the “2021 Plan,” and we refer to the amended and restated Kaiser Aluminum Corporation 2021 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan as the “Amended and Restated 2021 Plan.” The 2021 Plan originally became effective on June 3, 2021, upon approval by our stockholders. The Company previously granted awards under the Kaiser Aluminum Corporation 2016 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2016 Plan”). However, no awards could be granted under the 2016 Plan following the effectiveness of the 2021 Plan.
Our board of directors is recommending that our stockholders vote in favor of the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan, which will amend and restate the 2021 Plan. The Amended and Restated 2021 Plan continues to afford the compensation committee of our board of directors the ability to design compensatory awards that are responsive to our needs and includes authorization for a variety of awards designed to advance our interests and long-term success by helping to attract, motivate and retain our officers, other employees and non-employee directors, as well as potentially certain non-employees who provide employee-type services to us.
Stockholder approval of the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan would primarily make available for awards under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan an additional 263,000 shares of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share, as described below and in the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan, with such amount subject to adjustment, including under the share counting rules of the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan. The Amended and Restated 2021 Plan also makes certain other changes to the 2021 Plan, which changes are described below.
If the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan is approved by our stockholders at the Annual Meeting, it will be effective as of the date of the Annual Meeting. If the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan is not approved by our stockholders, then it will not become effective, no awards will be made under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan, and the 2021 Plan will continue in accordance with its terms as previously approved by our stockholders.
The actual text of the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan is attached as Appendix B of this Proxy Statement. The following description of the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan is only a summary of its principal terms and provisions and is qualified by reference to the actual text as set forth in Appendix B of this Proxy Statement.
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Summary of Material Changes from the 2021 Plan
The Amended and Restated 2021 Plan (1) increases the number of shares of common stock available for awards under the 2021 Plan by 263,000 shares, (2) correspondingly increases the limit on shares that may be issued or transferred upon the exercise of incentive stock options granted under the 2021 Plan, during its duration (as described below), by 263,000 shares, (3) extends the term of the 2021 Plan until the 10th anniversary of the date of stockholder approval of the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan, (4) provides that our board of directors may administer the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan in its discretion in lieu of the Committee (as defined below), (5) permits the Committee to delegate to one or more officers of the Company the authority to authorize the grant or sale of awards on the same basis as the Committee (rather than just designating award recipients and amounts), subject to the limitations on such delegation described in the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan or applicable law, and (6) enhances the clawback provisions of the 2021 Plan to accommodate and support the Company’s enforcement of the Nasdaq clawback listing standards (and the Company’s related clawback policy) that were adopted in 2023. The Amended and Restated 2021 Plan also makes certain other conforming, clarifying or immaterial changes to the terms of the 2021 Plan to implement the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan.
Why We Recommend That You Vote for Proposal 4
General
The Amended and Restated 2021 Plan authorizes the compensation committee of our board of directors to provide equity-based compensation in the form of stock options, appreciation rights (or SARs), restricted stock, restricted stock units (or RSUs), performance shares, performance units, dividend equivalents and certain other awards denominated or payable in, or otherwise based on our common stock or factors that may influence the value of our common stock, plus cash incentive awards, for the purpose of providing our officers and other employees (and those of our subsidiaries), our non-employee directors, and potentially certain non-employees who perform employee-type functions, incentives and rewards for service and/or performance. Some of the key features of the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan that reflect our commitment to effective management of equity and incentive compensation are described below.
We believe our future success depends in part on our ability to attract, motivate and retain high quality employees and directors and that the ability to provide equity-based and incentive-based awards under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan is critical to achieving this success. We would be at a competitive disadvantage if we could not use share-based awards to recruit and compensate our employees and directors.
The use of our common stock as part of our compensation program is also important to our continued success because equity-based awards are an essential component of our compensation program for employees, as they help link compensation with long-term stockholder value creation and reward participants based on service and/or performance. As discussed in further detail in our CD&A section, equity compensation represents a significant portion of the compensation package for our Chief Executive Officer and other named executive officers. Because our equity awards generally vest over multiple years, the value ultimately realized from these awards relates to the long-term value of our common stock. Our equity compensation program also helps us to attract and retain talent in a highly competitive market, targeting individuals who are motivated by pay-for-performance.
As of April 17, 2024, 352,210 shares of our common stock remained available for awards under the 2021 Plan. If the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan is not approved, we may be compelled to increase significantly the cash component of our employee and director compensation, which approach may not necessarily align employee and director compensation interests with the investment interests of our stockholders as closely as provided by equity-based awards. Replacing equity-based awards with cash also would increase cash compensation expense and use cash that might be better utilized.
Plan Highlights
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2021 Plan Information as of April 17, 2024
The following table provides information regarding our 2021 Plan and the number of shares of our common stock outstanding, each as of April 17, 2024:
Total shares of common stock subject to stock options and stock appreciation rights outstanding |
0 |
Total shares of common stock subject to full value awards outstanding* |
828,471 |
Shares available for awards under the 2021 Plan* |
352,210 |
Total shares of common stock outstanding |
16,068,833 |
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* Reflects the number of performance shares at the maximum performance level.
Equity Overhang and Dilution
The following includes aggregated information regarding our view of the overhang and dilution associated with the 2021 Plan and the 2016 Plan and the potential stockholder dilution that would result if our proposed share pool under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan is approved. The information below is as of April 17, 2024. As of that date, there were approximately 16,068,833 shares of our common stock outstanding.
We view equity overhang as the potential dilutive effects of outstanding and future equity grants, and we express it as a percentage and calculate it, as of any particular date, by dividing: (1) the sum of (a) the total number of shares of our common stock underlying outstanding awards (assuming maximum performance with respect to performance shares) and (b) the total number of shares of our common stock available for future grants, by (2) our total number of outstanding shares of common stock. Our equity overhang as of April 17, 2024 was 7.3%.
As of April 17, 2024, shares of our common stock subject to outstanding awards, shares of our common stock available for future awards and equity overhang under the 2021 Plan were as follows:
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If the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan had become effective and amended and restated the 2021 Plan as of April 17, 2024, shares of our common stock subject to outstanding awards, shares of common stock available for future awards and equity overhang under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan immediately thereafter would have been as follows:
Based on the closing price per share of our common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market on April 17, 2024 of $89.96, the aggregate market value of the 263,000 additional shares of our common stock requested to be available for awards under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan was $23,659,480.
Burn Rate
We determine the burn rate for any particular year as a percentage that is calculated by dividing (1) the sum of (a) the number of shares underlying time-vested full-value awards (for example, awards of restricted stock or restricted stock units) and time-vested stock options granted during such year, and (b) the number of shares underlying performance-vested full-value awards (for example, performance shares) earned during such year based on the achievement of applicable management objectives, by (2) the diluted weighted average number of shares of our common stock outstanding for such year.
The following table sets forth for each of 2021, 2022 and 2023: (1) the number of shares of our common stock underlying time-vested full-value awards granted during such year; (2) the number of shares of our common stock underlying performance-vested full-value awards granted during such year; (3) the number of shares of our common stock underlying performance-vested full-value awards earned during such year; (4) the sum of such numbers for such year, representing the total number of shares of our common stock we view as “burned” under the 2016 Plan and the 2021 Plan during such year; and (5) the burn rate, not taking into account forfeitures with respect to time-vested awards, based on our basic weighted
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average common stock outstanding. All awards granted under the 2016 Plan and the 2021 Plan during the last three years have been full-value awards.
Year |
|
Shares Subject to Time-Vested Awards Granted |
|
Shares Subject to Performance-Vested Awards |
|
Total Number of Common Stock "Burned" |
|
Basic Weighted Average Common Stock Outstanding |
|
Burn Rate |
||
|
Granted* |
|
Earned |
|
||||||||
2021 |
|
121,827 |
|
104,246 |
|
58,300 |
|
180,127 |
|
15,836,397 |
|
1.1% |
2022 |
|
106,494 |
|
133,840 |
|
0 |
|
106,494 |
|
15,905,504 |
|
0.7% |
2023 |
|
171,710 |
|
98,708 |
|
0 |
|
171,710 |
|
15,991,500 |
|
1.1% |
_________________
* Reflects the number of performance shares at the maximum performance level.
Our average annual burn rate for the three-year period 2021-2023, not taking into account forfeitures with respect to time-vested awards, was 1.0%.
Under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan, each of our non-employee directors may elect to receive shares of common stock in lieu of any or all of their annual cash retainer, including retainers for serving as Lead Independent Director or a committee chair, with the number of shares to be determined based on a per share price equal to the average of the closing prices per share of our common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market for the 20 trading days prior to the award date of the annual retainers. The burn rates set forth above do not reflect the shares of our common stock issued or delivered to our non-employee directors as a result of such elections. Our non-employee directors received 2,261, 5,655 and 9,739 shares of our common stock in lieu of annual cash retainers in 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively.
Anticipated Share Usage
In determining the number of additional shares of our common stock to request for approval under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan, our management team worked with Meridian, the compensation committee’s independent compensation consultant and the compensation committee of our board of directors to evaluate a number of factors, including our recent share usage and criteria expected to be utilized by institutional proxy advisory firms in evaluating our proposal for the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan.
If the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan is approved, we intend to utilize the shares authorized under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan to continue our practice of incentivizing key individuals through equity grants. We currently anticipate that the additional 263,000 shares of our common stock requested in connection with the approval of the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan combined with the shares available for future awards will last for about three years, based on our historic grant rates, anticipated future payout levels and approximate current stock price, but could last for a shorter or longer period of time if actual practice and experience does not match historic rates. For example, if our share price decreases materially, the shares available for future awards could last for a shorter period and, conversely, if our share price increases materially, the shares available for future awards could last for a longer period. As noted in “ - Summary of Other Material Terms of the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan” below, the compensation committee of our board of directors would retain full discretion under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan to determine the number and amount of awards to be granted under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan, subject to the terms of the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan, and future benefits that may be received by participants under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan are not determinable at this time, except with respect to certain grants to non-employee directors that are expected to be made immediately following the Annual Meeting (as described below).
We believe that we have demonstrated a commitment to sound equity compensation practices in recent years. We recognize that equity compensation awards dilute stockholder equity, so we have carefully managed our equity incentive compensation. Our equity compensation practices are intended to be competitive and consistent with market practices, and we believe our historical share usage has been responsible and mindful of stockholder interests, as described above.
In evaluating this Proposal 4, stockholders should consider all of the information in this Proposal 4.
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Key Features of the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan
Administration
The Amended and Restated 2021 Plan will generally be administered by the compensation committee of our board of directors (unless otherwise determined by our board of directors), as further described in “ - Summary of Other Material Terms of the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan - Administration” below.
Reasonable Plan Limits
Subject to adjustment as described in the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan, the aggregate number of shares of our common stock available for awards granted under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan is limited to 788,000 shares of our common stock (consisting of 525,000 shares that were approved in 2021 and 263,000 to be approved in 2024), plus (1) the total number of shares remaining available for awards under our the 2016 Plan as of June 3, 2021 and (2) any shares of our common stock that become available under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan or the 2016 Plan as a result of forfeiture, cancellation, expiration, withholding or cash settlement of awards, as described in “ - Limited Share Recycling Provisions” below. Shares of our common stock delivered in respect of grants under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan may be shares of original issuance, treasury shares or a combination of the two.
Subject to adjustment as described in the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan, the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan also provides for the following individual limits:
Allowances for Conversion Awards and Assumed Plans
Shares of our common stock issued or transferred under awards granted under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan in substitution for or conversion of, or in connection with an assumption of, stock options, SARs, restricted stock, RSUs or other stock or stock-based awards held by awardees of an entity engaging in a corporate acquisition or merger transaction with us or any of our subsidiaries will not count against (or be added back to) the aggregate share limit or other Amended and Restated 2021 Plan limits described above. Additionally, shares available under certain plans that we or our subsidiaries may assume in connection with corporate transactions from another entity may be available for certain awards under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan, under circumstances further described in the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan, but will not count against the aggregate share limit or other Amended and Restated 2021 Plan limits described above.
Share Recycling Provisions
If any award granted under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan (in whole or in part) is cancelled or forfeited, expires, is settled for cash or is unearned, the shares of our common stock subject to the award will, to the extent of such cancellation, forfeiture, expiration, cash settlement or unearned amount, again be available under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan. If, after June 3, 2021, any shares of our common stock subject to an award granted at any time under the 2016 Plan are then forfeited, or an award granted at any time under the 2016 Plan (in whole or in part) is then cancelled or forfeited, expires, is unearned or is settled in cash, the shares of our common stock subject to such award will, to the extent of such cancellation, forfeiture, expiration, unearned amount or cash settlement, also be available for awards under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan.
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The following shares of our common stock will not be added (or added back, as applicable) to the aggregate number of shares of our common stock available under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan: (1) shares withheld by us, or tendered or otherwise used, in payment of the exercise price of an option; (2) shares withheld by us, or tendered or otherwise used, to satisfy tax withholding obligations with respect to options or SARs; (3) shares subject to a share-settled SAR that are not actually issued in connection with the settlement of such SAR upon the exercise thereof; and (4) shares that are repurchased by us with stock option proceeds. The following shares of our common stock will be added (or added back, as applicable) to the aggregate number of shares of common stock available under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan: shares withheld by us, or tendered or otherwise used, to satisfy tax withholding obligations with respect to any awards other than options or SARs.
Minimum Vesting Periods
The Amended and Restated 2021 Plan provides that, except for awards under which up to an aggregate of 5% of the maximum number of shares of our common stock available under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan may be granted, awards granted under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan (other than cash-based awards) shall vest no earlier than after one year, unless our compensation committee specifically provides for those restrictions to lapse sooner, including by virtue of the death, disability or termination of employment of a participant (provided that in the event of a change in control the award shall be subject to the Double-Trigger Change in Control treatment described herein unless otherwise provided for in an award agreement, as further described below); provided, however, that (1) awards granted in connection with awards that are assumed converted or substituted in a transaction as provided in the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan, (2) shares of common stock delivered in lieu of fully vested cash obligations, and (3) awards to non-employee directors that vest on the earlier of the one-year anniversary of the applicable date of grant and the next annual meeting of stockholders which is at least 50 weeks after the immediately preceding year’s annual meeting will not be subject to the minimum vesting requirement.
Change in Control Treatment
The Amended and Restated 2021 Plan also provides that, as a default provision, in the event of a change in control, unless otherwise provided in an award agreement, all outstanding awards granted under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan will vest only where either (1) within a specified period of time the participant’s service is involuntarily terminated for reasons other than for cause or the participant terminates his or her employment or service for good reason or (2) such awards are not assumed or converted into replacement awards in a manner described in the applicable award agreement (we refer to any change in control satisfying these conditions as a “Double-Trigger Change in Control”). Under this default provision, unless otherwise provided in an award agreement, performance-based awards that vest upon a change in control of Kaiser would vest based on the actual achievement of the applicable management objectives as if the applicable performance period ends on the trading day immediately preceding the change in control of Kaiser, pro-rated for the number of days that lapse during the period of time from the first day of the performance period and continuing through the date of the change in control of Kaiser. Please note, however, that Kaiser’s current form award agreements provide for single-trigger change in control vesting, meaning the default Double-Trigger Change in Control treatment does not apply to any awards granted on such forms.
The Amended and Restated 2021 Plan includes a definition of “change in control,” which is set forth in “ - Summary of Other Material Terms of the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan – Change in Control” below.
No Repricing or Cash Buyouts Without Stockholder Approval
The repricing or exchange for cash or other awards of stock options and SARs (outside of certain corporate transactions or adjustment events described in the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan) is prohibited without stockholder approval under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan.
No Discounted Options or SARs
The Amended and Restated 2021 Plan provides that, except with respect to converted, assumed or substituted awards as described in the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan, no stock options or SARs will be granted with an exercise or base price, less than the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant.
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Summary of Other Material Terms of the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan
Administration
The Amended and Restated 2021 Plan will generally be administered by the compensation committee of our board of directors (or its successor), or any other committee of our board of directors designated by our board of directors to administer the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan (the “Committee”); provided, however, that at the discretion of the Board, the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan may be administered by the Board. The Committee may from time to time delegate all or any part of its authority under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan to any subcommittee thereof. Any interpretation, construction and determination by the Committee of any provision of the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan, or of any agreement, notification or document evidencing the grant of awards under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan (or related document), will be final and conclusive. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Committee may delegate to one or more of its members or to one or more officers, or to one or more of our agents or advisors, such administrative duties or powers as it deems advisable. In addition, the Committee may by resolution, to the extent permitted by law and subject to applicable legal requirements and certain restrictions set forth in the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan, authorize one or more of our officers to authorize the grant or sale of awards under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan on the same basis as the Committee. However, the Committee may not delegate such authority to our officers for awards granted to certain employees or other persons who are subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
Eligibility
Any person who is selected by the Committee to receive benefits under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan and who is at that time an officer or other employee of Kaiser or any of our subsidiaries (including a person who has agreed to commence serving in such capacity within 90 days of the date of grant) is eligible to participate in the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan. In addition, certain persons who provide services to us or any of our subsidiaries that are equivalent to those typically provided by an employee (provided that such persons satisfy the definition of “employee” for purposes of a Registration Statement on Form S-8 under the Securities Act), and non-employee directors of Kaiser, may also be selected to participate in the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan. As of April 17, 2024, we had approximately 109 employees, 0 other service providers and 9 non-employee directors participating. The basis for participation in the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan is being eligible and selected by the Committee or its designee to receive a grant thereunder.
Shares Available for Awards and Plan Limitations
Subject to adjustment as described in the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan, the aggregate number of shares of our common stock available for awards granted under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan is limited to 788,000 shares of our common stock (consisting of 525,000 shares that were approved in 2021 and 263,000 to be approved in 2024), plus (1) the total number of shares remaining available for awards under our 2016 Plan as of June 3, 2021 and (2) any shares of our common stock that become available under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan or the 2016 Plan as a result of forfeiture, cancellation, expiration, withholding or cash settlement of awards, as further described in “ - Key Features of the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan - Limited Share Recycling Provisions” above.
The Amended and Restated 2021 Plan also includes certain other share limits, as further described in the “Key Features of the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan - Reasonable Plan Limits” section above.
Share Counting
The aggregate number of shares of our common stock available for issuance under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan will be reduced by one share for every one share subject to an award granted under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan, as further described in “ - Key Features of the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan - Allowances for Conversion Awards and Assumed Plans” and “ - Key Features of the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan - Limited Share Recycling Provisions” above.
Types of Awards
Pursuant to the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan, we may grant stock options (including Incentive Stock Options), SARs (including tandem appreciation rights and free-standing appreciation rights), restricted stock, restricted stock units,
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performance shares, performance units, cash incentive awards, and certain other awards based on or related to our common stock.
Each grant of an award under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan will be evidenced by an award agreement which will contain such terms and provisions as the Committee may determine, consistent with the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan. A brief description of the types of awards which may be granted under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan is set forth below.
Stock Options. A stock option is a right to purchase shares of our common stock at a stated exercise price upon exercise of the stock option. Stock options granted under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan may consist of Incentive Stock Options, non-qualified stock options or a combination of both. Incentive Stock Options may only be granted to our employees and employees of our subsidiaries. Except with respect to awards issued in substitution for, in conversion of, or in connection with an assumption of stock options held by awardees of an entity engaging in a corporate acquisition or merger with us or any of our subsidiaries, stock options must have an exercise price per share that is not less than the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the date of grant. No stock option granted under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan may be exercised more than 10 years from the date of grant.
Each grant of stock options will be evidenced by an award agreement which will specify the applicable terms and conditions of such award, including the number of shares of our common stock subject to such stock option and any vesting and forfeiture provisions. Any grant of stock options may specify management objectives that must be achieved as a condition to the exercise of the stock options.
Any grant of stock options may provide for the continued vesting or the earlier vesting of such stock options, including in the event of the retirement, death, disability or termination of employment or service of a participant. Stock options granted under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan may not provide for dividends or dividend equivalents.
Each grant will specify the form of consideration to be paid in satisfaction of the exercise price, which may include: (1) cash or check acceptable to us, or wire transfer of immediately available funds; (2) the actual or constructive transfer to us of shares of our common stock owned by the participant (or certain other consideration permitted under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan) with a value at the time of exercise that is equal to the total exercise price; (3) subject to any conditions or limitations established by the Committee, by a net exercise arrangement pursuant to which shares of our common stock otherwise issuable upon exercise of a stock option will be withheld by us; (4) by a combination of the foregoing methods; and (5) such other methods as may be approved by the Committee. To the extent permitted by law, any grant may provide for deferred payment of the exercise price from the proceeds of a sale through a bank or broker of some or all of the shares to which the exercise relates. The exercise of stock options will result in the cancellation on a share-for-share basis of any tandem appreciation rights, as described below.
Appreciation Rights (or SARs). The Committee may authorize the granting of appreciation rights, including free-standing appreciation rights and tandem appreciation rights. A free-standing appreciation right is a right granted to any participant to receive from us an amount equal to 100%, or a lesser percentage as determined by the Committee, of the spread between the base price specified in the award agreement and the value of the shares of our common stock subject to the award on the date of exercise. Each grant of a free-standing appreciation right will contain a base price, which (except with respect to awards issued in substitution for, in conversion of, or in connection with an assumption of stock options held by awardees of an entity engaging in a corporate acquisition or merger with us or any of our subsidiaries) may not be less than the market value per share of our common stock on the date of grant. A tandem appreciation right is a right granted to the holder of a stock option, exercisable only by surrender of the related stock option, to receive from us an amount equal to 100%, or a lesser percentage as determined by the Committee, of the spread between the base price and the value of the shares of our common stock subject to the related stock option on the date of exercise. Tandem appreciation rights may be granted at any time prior to the exercise or termination of the related stock options, except that any tandem appreciation rights awarded in relation to Incentive Stock Options must be granted concurrently with the Incentive Stock Options. Tandem appreciation rights may only be exercised at a time when the related stock options are also exercisable and the spread is positive, and by the surrender of the related stock options.
Each grant of appreciation rights will be evidenced by an award agreement which will describe such appreciation rights, identify the related stock options (if applicable), and may contain other applicable terms and conditions of such award, including any vesting and forfeiture provisions. Any grant of appreciation rights may specify management objectives that
25
must be achieved as a condition to the exercise of such rights. Appreciation rights granted under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan may not provide for dividends or dividend equivalents.
Any grant of appreciation rights may provide for continued vesting or the earlier vesting of such rights, including in the event of the retirement, death, disability or termination of employment or service of a participant.
Each grant of appreciation rights may specify that the amount payable by us on exercise will be paid in cash, shares of our common stock or a combination thereof. No appreciation rights may be exercised more than 10 years after the date of grant. We may make successive grants of appreciation rights to the same participant regardless of whether any previously granted appreciation rights remain unexercised.
Restricted Stock. The grant or sale of restricted stock constitutes an immediate transfer of the ownership of shares of our common stock to the participant in consideration of the performance of services, entitling such participant to dividend, voting and other ownership rights, but subject to the substantial risk of forfeiture and restrictions on transfer for a period of time determined by the Committee or until certain management objectives specified by the Committee are achieved. Each grant or sale of restricted stock may be made without additional consideration or in consideration of a payment by the participant that is less than the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the date of grant.
Each grant or sale of restricted stock will be evidenced by an award agreement which will specify the applicable terms and conditions of such award, including any vesting and forfeiture provisions. Any grant of restricted stock may specify management objectives that, if achieved, will result in termination or early termination of the restrictions applicable to the restricted shares. Each grant or sale of restricted stock may require that any or all dividends or other distributions paid on restricted shares of our common stock that remain subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture be automatically deferred and reinvested in additional restricted stock, which may be subject to the same restrictions as the underlying award. However, dividends or other distributions on restricted stock subject to restrictions that lapse as a result of the achievement of management objectives will be deferred until, and paid contingent upon, the achievement of the applicable management objectives.
Any grant or sale of restricted stock may provide for the continued vesting or earlier vesting of restrictions on such restricted stock, including in the event of the retirement, death, disability or termination of employment or service of a participant.
Restricted Stock Units (or RSUs). Restricted stock units awarded under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan constitute an agreement by us to deliver shares of our common stock, cash or a combination thereof to the participant in the future in consideration of the performance of services, but subject to the fulfillment of such conditions (which may include the achievement of management objectives) during the restriction period as the Committee may specify. Each grant or sale of RSUs may be made without additional consideration or in consideration of a payment by the participant that is less than the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant. During the restriction period applicable to the RSUs, the participant will have no right to transfer any rights under the award and will have no ownership rights, including voting rights, in the shares of our common stock underlying such RSUs. For any award of RSUs, the Committee may provide that rights to dividend equivalents are part of any RSU on the terms determined by the Committee, on a current, deferred or contingent basis, either in cash or in additional shares of our common stock. However, dividend equivalents or other distributions on shares of our common stock underlying RSUs with restrictions that lapse as a result of the achievement of management objectives will be deferred until, and paid contingent upon, the achievement of the applicable management objectives.
Each grant of RSUs will be evidenced by an award agreement which will specify the applicable terms and conditions of such award, including any vesting and forfeiture provisions. Each grant of RSUs will specify the time and manner of payment of RSUs that have been earned, including whether the amount payable with respect to such RSUs will be paid in cash, shares of our common stock or a combination of the two.
Any grant or sale of RSUs may provide for the earlier lapse or other modification of the restriction period, including in the event of the retirement, death, disability or termination of employment or service of a participant.
Cash Incentive Awards, Performance Shares, and Performance Units. Performance shares, performance units and cash incentive awards may also be granted to participants under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan. A performance share is a bookkeeping entry that records the equivalent of one share of our common stock, and a performance unit is a bookkeeping entry that records a unit equivalent to $1.00 or such other value as determined by the Committee. Each grant will specify the
26
number or amount of performance shares or performance units, or the amount payable with respect to cash incentive awards, being awarded, which number or amount may be subject to adjustment to reflect changes in compensation or other factors. These awards, when granted under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan, become payable to participants upon of the achievement of specified management objectives and upon such terms and conditions as the Committee determines at the time of grant.
Each grant of performance shares, performance units or cash incentive awards will be evidenced by an award agreement which will specify the applicable terms and conditions of such award, including any vesting and forfeiture provisions. Each grant may specify with respect to the management objectives the minimum acceptable level(s) of achievement and may set forth a formula for determining the number of performance shares or performance units, or the amount payable with respect to cash incentive awards, that will be earned if performance is at or above the minimum or threshold level(s), or is at or above the target level(s) but falls short of maximum achievement. Each grant will specify the time and manner of payment of cash incentive awards, performance shares or performance units that have been earned, and any grant may further specify that any such amount may be paid or settled by us in cash, shares of our common stock, shares of restricted stock, RSUs, or any combination thereof. A grant of performance shares may, as determined by the Committee at the time of grant, provide for the payment of dividend equivalents either in cash or in additional shares of our common stock, but subject to deferral and payment on a contingent basis based on the participant’s earning of the performance shares with respect to which such dividend equivalents are paid.
The performance period with respect to a cash incentive award, performance share or performance unit will be a period of time determined by the Committee on the date of grant. The performance period may be subject to continued vesting or earlier lapse or modification, including in the event of the retirement, death, disability or termination of employment or service of a participant.
Other Awards. The Committee may grant such other awards (“Other Awards”) that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to, our common stock or factors that may influence the value of our common stock, including convertible or exchangeable debt securities, other rights convertible or exchangeable into our common stock, purchase rights for our common stock, awards with value and payment contingent upon performance of Kaiser or specified subsidiaries, affiliates or other business units or any other factors designated by the Committee, and awards valued by reference to the book value of our common stock or the value of securities of, or the performance of, the subsidiaries, affiliates or other business units of Kaiser. Each grant of Other Awards will be evidenced by an award agreement which will specify the applicable terms and conditions of such award, including any vesting and forfeiture provisions. Shares of our common stock delivered under an Other Award in the nature of a purchase right under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan will be purchased for such consideration, paid for at such time, by such methods and in such forms, including shares of our common stock, other awards, notes or other property, as the Committee determines.
In addition, the Committee may grant cash awards, as an element of or supplement to any other awards granted under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan. The Committee may also grant shares of our common stock as a bonus, or may grant Other Awards in lieu of our or any of our subsidiaries’ obligations to pay cash or deliver other property under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan or under other plans or compensatory arrangements, subject to terms determined by the Committee in a manner than complies with Section 409A of the Code.
Any grant of an Other Award may provide for the earning or vesting of, or earlier elimination of restrictions applicable to, such award, including in the event of the retirement, death, disability or termination of employment or service of a participant.
It is expected that, consistent with historical practice under the 2021 Plan, non-employee directors will be permitted under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan to elect to receive shares of our common stock in lieu of any or all of the annual cash retainers paid to non-employee directors, including retainers for serving as a committee chair or Lead Independent Director. See note 2 to the table in “ - New Plan Benefits” below for additional information. The shares of our common stock received by our non-employee directors in lieu of annual cash retainers will not be subject to vesting requirements based on the passage of time or the achievement of performance objectives.
Change in Control
The Amended and Restated 2021 Plan provides, in a default provision, for “double-trigger” acceleration with respect to the vesting of awards in connection with a change in control of Kaiser unless otherwise provided in an award agreement as
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further described in “ - Key Features of the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan - Minimum Vesting Periods/Change in Control Treatment” above. Please note, however, that Kaiser’s current form award agreements provide for single-trigger change in control vesting, meaning the default Double-Trigger Change in Control treatment does not apply to any awards granted on such forms. In general, except as may be otherwise prescribed by the Committee in any award agreement, a “change in control of Kaiser” will be deemed to have occurred upon the occurrence of any of the following events:
Performance-Based Awards
The Amended and Restated 2021 Plan permits Kaiser to grant any awards set forth above subject to the achievement of specified management objectives.
Management objectives are defined as the measurable performance objective or objectives established pursuant to the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan for participants who have received grants of performance shares, performance units or cash incentive awards or, when so determined by the Committee, stock options, appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, dividend equivalents or Other Awards. Management objectives may be described in terms of company-wide objectives or objectives that are related to the performance of the individual participant or of one or more of the subsidiaries, divisions, departments, regions, functions or other organizational units within Kaiser or its subsidiaries. The management objectives may be made relative to the performance of other companies or subsidiaries, or divisions, departments, regions, functions or other organizational units within such other companies or subsidiaries, and may be made relative to an index or one or more of the performance objectives themselves. The management objectives may (but are not required to) be based on one or more, or a combination, of the following metrics (including relative or growth achievement regarding such metrics):
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Transferability of Awards
Except as otherwise provided by the Committee, and subject to the terms of the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan and Section 409A of the Code, no award made under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan or dividend equivalents paid with respect to such awards may be transferred by a participant except (1) for no consideration to immediate family members (as defined in the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan) or to a bona fide trust, partnership, or other entity controlled by and for the benefit of one or more immediate family members, or (2) by will or the laws of descent and distribution. In no event will any such award granted under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan be transferred for value. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, stock options and appreciation rights will be exercisable during the participant’s lifetime only by him or her or, in the event of the participant’s legal incapacity to do so, by his or her guardian or legal representative acting on behalf of the participant in a fiduciary capacity under state law or court supervision.
The Committee may specify at the date of grant that all or part of the shares of our common stock that are subject to awards under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan will be subject to further restrictions on transfer, including minimum holding periods.
Adjustments; Corporate Transactions
With respect to awards granted under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan, the Committee will make or provide for such adjustments in the (1) number of and kind of shares covered by outstanding stock options, appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares and performance units, (2) if applicable, number and kind of shares covered by Other Awards, (3) exercise or base price provided in outstanding stock options and appreciation rights, (4) cash incentive awards, and (5) other award terms, as the Committee in its sole discretion in good faith determines to be equitably required in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of participants that otherwise would result from (a) any extraordinary cash dividend, stock dividend, stock split, combination of shares, recapitalization or other change in the capital structure of Kaiser, (b) any merger, consolidation, spin-off, spin-out, split-off, split-up, reorganization, partial or complete liquidation or other distribution of assets, issuance of rights or warrants to purchase securities, or (c) any other corporate transaction or event having an effect similar to any of the foregoing.
In the event of any such transaction or event, or in the event of a change in control (provided that in the event of a change in control the awards shall be subject to the Double-Trigger Change in Control treatment described herein unless otherwise provided for in an award agreement), the Committee may provide in substitution for any or all outstanding awards under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan such alternative consideration (including cash), if any, as it may in good faith determine to be equitable under the circumstances and will require in connection therewith the surrender of all awards so replaced in a manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code. In addition, for each stock option and appreciation right with an exercise or base price greater than the consideration offered in connection with any such transaction or event or change in control of Kaiser, the Committee may in its discretion elect to cancel such stock option or appreciation right without any payment to the person holding such stock option or appreciation right. Except as otherwise provided for in an award agreement, all outstanding awards granted under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan will vest upon a Double-Trigger
29
Change in Control, as described in “ - ‘Double-Trigger’ Accelerated Vesting upon Change in Control.” The Committee will also make or provide for such adjustments to the number and kind of shares available for issuance under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan and the share limits of the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan, as the Committee in its sole discretion in good faith determines to be appropriate in connection with such transaction or event. However, any adjustment to the number of shares of our common stock that may be issued upon the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option will be made only if and to the extent that such adjustment would not cause any stock option intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option to fail to so qualify.
Prohibition on Repricing
Except in connection with certain corporate transactions or changes in the capital structure of Kaiser as described in the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan, the terms of outstanding awards may not be amended to (1) reduce the exercise price or base price of outstanding stock options or appreciation rights, or (2) cancel outstanding stock options or appreciation rights in exchange for cash, Other Awards, or stock options or appreciation rights with an exercise price or base price, as applicable, that is less than the exercise price or base price of the original stock options or appreciation rights, as applicable, without stockholder approval. The Amended and Restated 2021 Plan specifically provides that this provision is intended to prohibit the repricing of “underwater” stock options and appreciation rights and that it may not be amended without approval by our stockholders.
Clawback; Detrimental Activity and Recapture
Any award granted under the Amended and Restated 2021 are subject to the terms and conditions of the Company’s clawback provisions, policy or policies as may be in effect from time to time, including, without limitation, those that specifically implement Section 10D of the Exchange Act, and any applicable rules or regulations promulgated thereunder (including applicable rules and regulations of any national securities exchange on which the shares of our common stock at any point may be traded) (collectively, the “Compensation Recovery Policy”), and applicable sections of any award agreement to which the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan is applicable or any related documents will be interpreted consistently with (or deemed superseded by and/or subject to, as applicable) the terms and conditions of the Compensation Recovery Policy. In addition, any award agreement may provide for cancellation or forfeiture of an award or the forfeiture and repayment of any gain or earnings related to an award, including upon such terms and conditions as may be determined by our board of directors or the Committee in accordance with the Compensation Recovery Policy or any applicable laws, rules, regulations or requirements that impose mandatory clawback or recoupment requirements under the circumstances set forth in such laws, rules, regulations or requirements in effect from time to time (including as may operate to create additional rights for the Company with respect to such awards and the recovery of amounts or benefits relating thereto).
Grants to Non-U.S. Based Participants
In order to facilitate the making of any grant or combination of grants under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan, the Committee may provide for such special terms for awards made to participants who are foreign nationals, who are employed by us or a subsidiary outside of the United States of America or who provide services to us or a subsidiary under an agreement with a foreign nation or agency, as the Committee may consider necessary or appropriate to accommodate differences in local law, tax policy or custom. The Committee may approve such supplements to, or amendments, restatements or alternative versions of, the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan (including, without limitation, sub-plans) as it may consider necessary or appropriate for such purposes. However, no such special terms, supplements, amendments or restatements may include any provisions that are inconsistent with the terms of the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan, as then in effect, unless the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan could have been amended to eliminate such inconsistency without further approval by our stockholders.
Withholding Taxes
To the extent we are required to withhold federal, state, local or foreign taxes or other amounts in connection with any payment made or benefit realized by a participant or other person under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan, and the amounts available to us for such withholding are insufficient, it will be a condition to the receipt of such payment or the realization of such benefit that the participant or such other person make arrangements satisfactory to us for payment of the balance of such taxes or other amounts required to be withheld, which arrangements, in the discretion of the Committee, may include relinquishment of a portion of such benefit. If a participant’s benefit is to be received in the form of shares of our common stock, and such participant fails to make arrangements for the payment of taxes or other amounts, then, unless
30
otherwise determined by the Committee, we will withhold shares of our common stock having a value equal to the amount required to be withheld. When a participant is required to pay us an amount required to be withheld under applicable income and employment tax laws, Committee may require the participant to satisfy the obligation, in whole or in part, by having withheld, from the shares delivered or required to be delivered to the participant, shares of our common stock having a value equal to the amount required to be withheld or by delivering to us other shares of our common stock held by such participant. In no event will the market value of the shares of our common stock to be withheld or delivered exceed the minimum amount of taxes required to be withheld, except as otherwise determined by the Committee and provided in the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan. The shares used for tax withholding will be valued at an amount equal to the market value of our common stock on the date the benefit is to be included in participant’s income. We may also require participants to make arrangements for the payment of any withholding tax obligations that may arise in connection with the disposition of shares of our common stock acquired upon the exercise of stock options.
No Right to Continued Employment
The Amended and Restated 2021 Plan does not confer upon any participant any right with respect to continuance of employment or service with Kaiser or any of its subsidiaries, nor will the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan interfere with any right that we or any of our subsidiaries would otherwise have to terminate any participant’s employment or other service at any time.
Effective Date
The Amended and Restated 2021 Plan will become effective on the date it is approved by Kaiser’s stockholders.
Amendment and Termination
The Board generally may amend the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan from time to time in whole or in part. However, if any amendment, for purposes of the applicable stock exchange rules (and except as permitted under the adjustment provisions of the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan) (1) would materially increase the benefits accruing to participants under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan, (2) would materially increase the number of shares or securities which may be issued under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan, (3) would materially modify the requirements for participation in the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan, or (4) must otherwise be approved by our stockholders in order to comply with applicable law or the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market, then such amendment will be subject to stockholder approval and will not be effective unless and until such approval has been obtained.
Further, subject to the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan’s prohibition on repricing, the Committee generally may amend the terms of any award prospectively or retroactively. Except in the case of certain adjustments permitted under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan, no such amendment may be taken that would impair the rights of any participant without his or her consent. If permitted by Section 409A of the Code and subject to certain other limitations set forth in the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan (and notwithstanding the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan’s minimum vesting requirements), including in the case of termination of employment or service, in the case of unforeseeable emergency or other circumstances, the Committee may accelerate the vesting of certain awards granted under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan.
Our board of directors may, in its discretion, terminate the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan at any time. Termination of the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan will not affect the rights of participants or their successors under any awards outstanding and not exercised in full on the date of termination. No grant will be made under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan more than 10 years after the effective date of the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan, but all grants made on or prior to such date shall continue in effect thereafter subject to the terms of the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan.
New Plan Benefits
The Committee generally expects to grant restricted stock under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan to our non-employee directors immediately following the Annual Meeting, provided that the stockholders approve the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan. The Committee generally does not expect to grant equity awards under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan to any employees (including our executive officers) immediately following the Annual Meeting. However, the grants expected to be made to our non-employee directors immediately following the Annual Meeting are not approved, and may
31
not actually be made, and the Committee may grant equity awards to our employees according to the Committee’s discretion.
The following table provides information about the grants that are expected to occur immediately following the Annual Meeting:
Kaiser Aluminum Corporation 2021 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended and restated
Name and Position |
|
Dollar Value ($) |
|
Number of Shares |
||||
Keith A. Harvey |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
President and CEO |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John M. Donnan |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Neal E. West |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jason D. Walsh |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Senior Vice President - Manufacturing |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Raymond D. Parkinson |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Senior Vice President - Advanced Engineering and Innovation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Executive officers, as a group (1) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-employee directors, as a group (2) |
|
|
$1,170,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All employees (other than executive officers), as a group (3) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
_________________
(1) |
None of our executive officers are expected to receive an award under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan immediately following the Annual Meeting. |
(2) |
Immediately following the Annual Meeting, pursuant to our director compensation policy, each of our nine non-employee directors is expected to receive a grant of restricted stock units having a value equal to at least $130,000. The number of shares subject to such grants will be determined based on a per share price equal to the average of the closing prices per share of our common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market for the 20 trading days prior to the date of such grants. It is also expected that, under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan, each of our non-employee directors will be permitted to elect to receive shares of common stock in lieu of any or all of his or her annual cash retainer to be awarded immediately following the Annual Meeting, including retainers for serving as Lead Independent Director or a committee chair, with the number of shares to be determined based on a per share price equal to the average of the closing prices per share of our common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market for the 20 trading days prior to the award date of the annual retainers. As of the date of this Proxy Statement, it is not possible to determine the number of shares of our common stock that will be issued or transferred to non-employee directors as a result of elections to receive shares of our common stock in lieu of annual retainers because such elections have not yet been made. |
(3) |
None of our employees, including our officers who are not executive officers, are expected to receive an award under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan immediately following the Annual Meeting. |
Other than with respect to the grants set forth in the table above, it is not possible to determine the specific amounts and types of awards that may be awarded in the future under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan because the grant and actual payout of awards under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan are subject to the discretion of the Committee.
32
Historical Grants
The following table provides information about the number of awards granted under the 2021 Plan to the named executive officers and the other individuals and groups indicated below since its inception through April 17, 2024:
Kaiser Aluminum Corporation 2021 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan
Name and Position/Group |
|
Number of Shares Subject to RSUs |
|
Number of Shares Subject to Performance Shares Awards |
|
Number of Shares Subject to Restricted Stock |
|
Number of Shares Received in Lieu of Director Cash Fees |
||||||||
Keith A. Harvey |
|
|
54,864 |
|
|
|
153,730 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
President and Chief Executive Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John M. Donnan |
|
|
14,641 |
|
|
|
36,976 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Neal E. West |
|
|
15,263 |
|
|
|
38,454 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jason D. Walsh |
|
|
12,747 |
|
|
|
22,436 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
Senior Vice President - Manufacturing |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Raymond D. Parkinson |
|
|
16,721 |
|
|
|
16,998 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
Senior Vice President - Advanced Engineering and Innovation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All current executive officers, as a group |
|
|
130,520 |
|
|
|
288,252 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All current directors who are not executive officers as a group |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
36,679
|
|
|
|
17,655 |
|
Each nominee for election as a director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael C. Arnold |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
4,143 |
|
|
|
856 |
|
David A. Foster |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
4,337 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Richard P. Grimley |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
2,371 |
|
|
|
166 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Each associate of any of the foregoing |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Each other person who received at least 5% of all awards |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All employees (other than executive officers), as a group |
|
|
246,405 |
|
|
|
122,126 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
United States Federal Income Tax Consequences
The following is a brief summary of some of the United States federal income tax consequences of certain transactions under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan based on federal income tax laws in effect. This summary, which is presented for the information of stockholders considering how to vote on this proposal and not for Amended and Restated 2021 Plan participants, is not intended to be complete and does not describe federal taxes other than income taxes (such as Medicare and Social Security taxes), or state, local or foreign tax consequences.
Tax Consequences to Participants
Restricted Stock. The recipient of restricted stock generally will be subject to tax at ordinary income rates on the fair market value of the restricted stock (reduced by any amount paid by the recipient for such restricted stock) at such time as the shares are no longer subject to forfeiture or restrictions on transfer for purposes of Section 83 of the Code (“Restrictions”). However, a recipient may instead elect under Section 83(b) of the Code within 30 days of the date of transfer of the shares to have taxable ordinary income on the date of transfer of the shares equal to the excess of the fair market value of such shares (determined without regard to the Restrictions) over the purchase price, if any, of the restricted stock. If
33
a Section 83(b) election has not been made, any dividend received with respect to the restricted stock that is subject to the Restrictions generally will be treated as compensation that is taxable as ordinary income to the recipient.
Performance Shares, Performance Units and Cash Incentive Awards. No income generally will be recognized upon the grant of performance shares, performance units or cash incentive awards. Upon payment in respect of the earn-out of performance shares, performance units or cash incentive awards, the recipient generally will be required to include as taxable ordinary income in the year of receipt an amount equal to the amount of cash received and the fair market value of any nonrestricted shares of our common stock received.
Nonqualified Stock Options. In general:
Incentive Stock Options. No income generally will be recognized by a participant upon the grant or exercise of an Incentive Stock Option. If shares of our common stock are issued to the participant pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option, and if no disqualifying disposition of such shares is made by such participant within two years after the date of grant or within one year after the transfer of such shares of our common stock to the participant, then upon sale of such shares of our common stock, any amount realized in excess of the option price will be taxed to the participant as a long-term capital gain and any loss sustained will be a long-term capital loss.
If shares of our common stock acquired upon the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option are disposed of prior to the expiration of either holding period described above, the participant generally will recognize ordinary income in the year of disposition in an amount equal to the excess (if any) of the fair market value of such shares of our common stock at the time of exercise (or, if less, the amount realized on the disposition of such shares if a sale or exchange) over the exercise price paid for such shares of our common stock. Any further gain (or loss) realized by the participant generally will be taxed as short-term or long-term capital gain (or loss) depending on the holding period.
Appreciation Rights. No income will be recognized by a participant in connection with the grant of an appreciation right. When the appreciation right is exercised, the participant normally will be required to include as taxable ordinary income in the year of exercise an amount equal to the amount of cash received and the fair market value of any unrestricted shares of our common stock received.
Restricted Stock Units. No income generally will be recognized by a participant upon the award of restricted stock units. The recipient of a restricted stock unit award generally will be subject to tax at ordinary income rates on the fair market value of unrestricted shares of our common stock on the date that such shares are issued or transferred to the participant under the award (reduced by any amount paid by the participant for such restricted stock units), and the capital gains/loss holding period for such shares will also commence on such date.
Tax Consequences to Kaiser or its Subsidiaries
To the extent that a participant recognizes ordinary income in the circumstances described above, Kaiser or the subsidiary for which the participant performs services will be entitled to a corresponding deduction provided that, among other things, the income meets the test of reasonableness, is an ordinary and necessary business expense, is not an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code and is not disallowed by the $1 million limitation on certain executive compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code.
Vote Required
Stockholder approval of the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan requires a favorable vote of a majority of the Shares present (in person or by proxy), entitled to vote on the subject matter and actually voted on the proposal at the Annual
34
Meeting. If our stockholders do not approve the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan, the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan will have no effect. In such case, the 2021 Plan will remain in effect.
Registration with the SEC
We intend to file a Registration Statement on Form S-8 relating to the issuance of shares of our common stock under the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act, as soon as practicable after approval of the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan by our stockholders.
The board of directors recommends a vote "FOR" the approval of the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan.
35
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Our board of directors is responsible for providing effective governance over the affairs of our company. Our corporate governance practices are designed to align the interests of our board of directors and management with those of our stockholders and to promote honesty, integrity and our corporate values throughout the Company. Highlights of our corporate governance practices are described below.
A copy of the current charter, as approved by our board of directors, for each of the executive committee, audit committee, compensation committee, nominating and corporate governance committee and sustainability committee, and a copy of each of our corporate governance guidelines and our code of business conduct and ethics, which applies to all of our directors and employees, including our executive officers, are available on our website at www.kaiseraluminum.com under "Investors - Governance." Furthermore, we will post any amendments to our code of business conduct and ethics, or waivers of the code for our directors or executive officers, on our website at www.kaiseraluminum.com under "Investors- Governance."
Corporate Governance Highlights
Highlights of our corporate governance practices are described below:
Board Structure |
|
Highly independent - 82% of the directors are independent |
|
Independent audit, compensation, nominating and corporate governance and sustainability committees |
|
|
Diverse in perspective and background - 18% gender diversity and 27% ethnic diversity |
|
|
Separate CEO and Chairman roles |
|
|
Strong lead independent director |
|
Board Practices and Policies |
|
Strong commitment to board refreshment - approximately 55% of directors have a tenure of less than five years; executed planned succession of nominating and corporate governance committee chair and lead independent director roles in 2023 |
|
Regular executive session of independent directors without management present at every board and committee meeting |
|
|
Oversight of management activities, including annual risk management assessment |
|
|
Directors encouraged and invited to attend meetings of committees of which they are not members |
|
|
Directors are prohibited from serving on more than three other boards of public companies or public investment funds without board approval |
|
|
Robust annual board and committee assessments with external and/or internal resources, including performance reviews of individual directors by Lead Independent Director and Executive Chairman |
|
|
Policy encourages diversity of gender, ethnicity, age and background, as well as a range in tenure to ensure both continuity and fresh perspectives |
|
Accountability |
|
Regular extensive engagement by management with stockholders to discuss matters including our performance, governance structure, compensation practices and other sustainability initiatives |
|
Majority vote standard in uncontested director elections |
|
|
Annual governance surveys to assess our culture and the effectiveness of our training |
|
|
Encourage reporting of illegal or unethical behavior, including the use of InTouch, a third-party reporting program |
|
|
No related-party transactions requiring disclosure under Section 404(a) of Regulation S-K |
36
Share Ownership / Compensation |
|
“Pay for performance” compensation structure |
|
Robust equity ownership and retention requirements for executives and directors |
|
|
Prohibition of hedging, pledging and lending of our shares |
|
|
Robust clawback policies in our incentive compensation plans (in addition to the clawback policy required by Dodd-Frank and Nasdaq listing standards) |
Board Leadership Structure
Mr. Hockema, our former CEO, serves as the Executive Chairman of our board. Mr. Arnold serves as the Lead Independent Director of our board. We believe Mr. Hockema's substantial experience with our company and in the metals industries, the independence of the other directors, our governance structure and the interaction between and among Messrs. Hockema, Harvey and Arnold and the other directors make our board leadership structure the most appropriate for our company and our stockholders.
Our corporate governance guidelines and governance structure require a Lead Independent Director to be selected by a majority of the independent directors when the Executive Chairman of the board is not independent, thereby ensuring that there is independent leadership within our board of directors and allowing our independent directors to function as a body distinct from management and evaluate the performance of Mr. Harvey and our management independently and objectively. The responsibilities of our Lead Independent Director include:
Each of the audit, compensation, nominating and corporate governance and sustainability committees consists solely of independent directors. The chair of each committee serves as a liaison to keep our full board of directors and our CEO apprised of the work performed by their respective committees at each of our regularly scheduled board meetings and as otherwise required. Finally, under our bylaws, special meetings of our board of directors may be called by the Chairman, our CEO or a majority of our board members.
Under our corporate governance guidelines, each member of our board of directors may submit items to be included on the agenda for any meeting of our board of directors and raise topics that are not on the agenda at any meeting of our board of directors. In addition, our independent directors, representing nine of our 11 directors, are required to meet at least quarterly in executive sessions at which only independent directors are present. Additionally, we encourage direct communication among our directors and with our CEO before, during and after formal board and committee meetings and facilitate those communications around all of our meetings. Our directors also have full access to our officers, employees and advisors.
Risk Oversight
We have policies in place to identify, assess and manage potential risks and to continually review the procedures that we have designed and implemented to mitigate those risks. We believe that our board of directors provides effective oversight of the risk management function. Under its charter, the audit committee of our board of directors is responsible for discussing our risk management policies, including, without limitation, the steps taken and to be taken to monitor and control our major financial risk exposures. The audit committee also reviews risks relating to our information technology systems, including
37
cybersecurity. The compensation committee of our board of directors is responsible for assessing risks associated with our compensation policies and incentivizing the conduct of our business in a manner consistent with our corporate values and implementing our clawback policies. The nominating and corporate governance committee of our board of directors is responsible for evaluating our corporate governance structure, reviewing our directors, managing board succession planning and reviewing and evaluating the succession planning of our CEO and other executive officers. The sustainability committee of our board of directors is responsible for overseeing certain sustainability-related risks, including overseeing our overall approach to sustainability principles and related disclosures, reviewing and evaluating our leadership and development training, and reviewing the diversity of our management and workforce and our approach to diversity, equity and inclusion. Our Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel, working with a committee of other members of senior management, oversees our climate-related risk management approach and report regularly to the sustainability committee and the full board of directors on such matters.
In addition, our full board of directors is actively engaged in the review and assessment of our risk management policies, conducts a comprehensive review at least annually during a regularly scheduled board meeting and routinely requests that specific risk-related items be included on board and committee meeting agendas. We also engage in an ongoing enterprise risk management process pursuant to which we formally identify, categorize and assess our risks and risk mitigation strategies and routinely update the audit committee and the full board of directors regarding this process.
Director Independence
Our corporate governance guidelines require that a majority of the members of our board of directors satisfy the independence requirements set forth in the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market. We refer to these requirements as the general independence criteria. Additionally, the audit committee charter, compensation committee charter and nominating and corporate governance committee charter require that all respective committee members satisfy the general independence criteria. There are no family relationships among our officers or directors.
Based upon information requested from and provided by our directors concerning their backgrounds, employment and affiliations, including family relationships, our board of directors has determined that each of Mmes. Martin and Sebastian and Messrs. Arnold, Foster, Grimley, Osborne, Stebbins, Wilcox and Williams, representing nine of our 11 directors, satisfies the general independence criteria. The two remaining directors, Messrs. Harvey and Hockema, do not meet the independence criteria as our CEO and former CEO and Executive Chairman, respectively. In making such determination, our board of directors considered the relationships that each of our directors have with our company and all other facts and circumstances our board of directors deemed relevant in determining the independence of each of our directors in accordance with the general independence criteria.
Director Designation Agreement
On July 6, 2006, we entered into a Director Designation Agreement with the USW under which the USW has certain rights to designate board candidates for nomination. We believe that:
Accordingly, in connection with the renewal and ratification of a new five-year collective bargaining agreement with members of the USW at our Spokane Valley, Washington and Newark, Ohio facilities, in December 2019, the Director Designation Agreement which was set to expire on December 31, 2020 was extended to December 31, 2025. Under the Director Designation Agreement, as amended, the USW generally has the right to designate for nomination the minimum number of director candidates necessary to ensure that, assuming the nominated candidates are elected by our stockholders, at least 40% of the members of our board of directors have been nominated by the USW.
The Director Designation Agreement contains requirements as to the timeliness, form and substance of the notice the USW must give to the nominating and corporate governance committee in order to nominate candidates. The nominating
38
and corporate governance committee is required to determine in good faith whether each properly submitted candidate satisfies the qualifications set forth in the Director Designation Agreement. Pursuant to the terms of the Director Designation Agreement, if the nominating and corporate governance committee determines that a nominated candidate satisfies the qualifications, the committee will, unless otherwise required by its fiduciary duties, recommend the candidate to our board of directors for inclusion in the slate of directors to be recommended by the board of directors in our proxy statement. Similarly, the board of directors will, unless otherwise required by its fiduciary duties, accept the designation for nomination and include the candidate in the slate of directors that the board of directors recommends. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the USW may not nominate an incumbent candidate without our approval.
In addition, the Director Designation Agreement provides that, so long as our board of directors maintains an audit committee, executive committee or nominating and corporate governance committee, each of these committees will, unless otherwise required by the fiduciary duties of our board of directors, include at least one director nominated by the USW (provided at least one director nominated by the USW is qualified to serve on the applicable committee as determined in good faith by our board of directors). Current members of our board of directors that have been nominated by the USW are Messrs. Foster, Grimley and Wilcox and Ms. Sebastian.
Board Committees
Currently, our board of directors has five standing committees: an executive committee; an audit committee; a compensation committee; a nominating and corporate governance committee; and a sustainability committee.
The following table sets forth the chair and members of each committee of our board of directors and the number of meetings each committee held during 2023.
Committee |
|
Members |
|
Number of Meetings |
|
|
Executive Committee |
|
Jack A. Hockema (Chair) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
Michael C. Arnold (1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Keith A. Harvey |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lauralee E. Martin |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alfred E. Osborne, Jr. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Donald J. Stebbins |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brett E. Wilcox |
|
|
|
|
Audit Committee |
|
Lauralee E. Martin (Chair) |
|
|
6 |
|
|
|
Teresa M. Sebastian |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brett E. Wilcox |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kevin W. Williams |
|
|
|
|
Compensation |
|
Donald J. Stebbins (Chair) |
|
|
6 |
|
Committee |
|
Michael C. Arnold (1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Richard P. Grimley (2) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lauralee E. Martin |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brett E. Wilcox |
|
|
|
|
Nominating and |
|
Alfred E. Osborne, Jr. (Chair) (1) |
|
|
6 |
|
Corporate Governance |
|
Michael C. Arnold (1) |
|
|
|
|
Committee |
|
David A. Foster |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Teresa M. Sebastian |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Donald J. Stebbins |
|
|
|
|
Sustainability Committee |
|
Brett E. Wilcox (Chair) |
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
David A. Foster |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Richard P. Grimley (2) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lauralee E. Martin |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Teresa M. Sebastian |
|
|
|
39
___________________
(1) |
Mr. Arnold was appointed as Chair of the nominating and corporate governance committee and joined the executive committee in March 2023. Mr. Arnold served on the compensation committee until June 2023. |
(2) |
Mr. Grimley became a member of the compensation and sustainability committees in April 2023. |
Executive Committee
The executive committee of our board of directors manages our business and affairs requiring attention prior to the next regular meeting of our board of directors. However, the executive committee does not have the power to (1) approve or adopt, or recommend to our stockholders, any action or matter expressly required by law to be submitted to our stockholders for approval, (2) adopt, amend or repeal the bylaws of our company, or (3) take any other action reserved for action by our board of directors pursuant to a resolution of our board of directors or otherwise prohibited to be taken by the executive committee by law or pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or bylaws.
The executive committee charter requires that a majority of the members of the executive committee satisfy the general independence criteria. In addition, the members of the executive committee must include the chairman of our board of directors and at least one of the directors nominated by the USW. The executive committee is currently comprised of our CEO, executive chairman of the board of directors, lead independent director and the chair of each of the other standing committees of the board of directors.
Audit Committee
The audit committee of our board of directors oversees our accounting and financial reporting practices and processes and the audit of our financial statements on behalf of our board of directors. The audit committee is responsible for appointing, compensating, retaining and overseeing the work of our independent accounting firm. Other duties and responsibilities of the audit committee include:
The audit committee charter requires that all members of the audit committee satisfy the general independence criteria. The charter also requires that no audit committee members may have participated in the preparation of our financial statements during the three years prior to their appointment as a member and that each audit committee member be able to read and understand fundamental financial statements, including a balance sheet, an income statement and a cash flow statement. Additionally, at least one member of the audit committee must have had past employment experience in finance or accounting, requisite professional certification in accounting or any other comparable experience which results in that individual's financial sophistication, including being or having been a chief executive officer, chief financial officer or other senior officer with financial oversight responsibilities, and that member or another member must have sufficient education or experience to have acquired the attributes necessary to meet the criteria of an "audit committee financial expert," as that term is defined in the rules promulgated by the SEC. In addition, the members of the audit committee must include at least one of the directors nominated by the USW so long as at least one director nominated by the USW is appropriately qualified.
Our board of directors has determined that all members of the audit committee during 2023 (1) meet the general independence criteria, the heightened independence criteria for members of the audit committee set forth in the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market and the criteria for independence set forth in Rule 10A-3(b)(1) under the Exchange Act, and (2) are able to read and understand fundamental financial statements. Our board of directors has also determined that no member of the audit committee participated in the preparation of our financial statements during the three years prior to their appointment as members of the committee. Finally, our board of directors has determined that each member of the audit committee satisfies the financial sophistication criteria described above and satisfies the criteria necessary to serve as the "audit
40
committee financial expert," in each case based on his or her experience described in "Proposals Requiring Your Vote - Proposal 1 - Election of Directors" above.
Compensation Committee
General
The compensation committee of our board of directors establishes and administers our policies, programs and procedures for compensating our senior management, including determining and approving the compensation of our executive officers. Other duties and responsibilities of the compensation committee include:
The compensation committee solicits the views of our CEO on compensation matters, including as they relate to our compensation of our executive officers and other members of senior management, including those reporting to our CEO. The compensation committee has retained Meridian to advise the compensation committee on all matters related to compensation of our CEO and other members of senior management. The compensation committee has reviewed the factors that could affect, and has assessed, Meridian's independence. Based on this review, the compensation committee has determined there are no conflicts of interest that have been raised by Meridian's work.
Meridian's services include (1) providing competitive market data and related assessments of executive compensation as background against which the compensation committee considers executive compensation, (2) preparing and reviewing tally and compensation summary sheets for our named executive officers, (3) apprising the compensation committee of trends and best practices associated with executive and director compensation, (4) providing support with respect to legal, regulatory and accounting considerations impacting compensation and benefit programs, (5) the development and review of a list of compensation peer group companies, and (6) attending meetings of the compensation committee and our board of directors when requested. These services are typically directed by the compensation committee and coordinated with our human resources and legal departments.
The compensation committee charter requires that all members of the compensation committee satisfy the general independence criteria and the heightened independence criteria for members of the compensation committee set forth in the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market, as well as qualify as "non-employee directors" within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act. Our board of directors has determined that all members of the compensation committee during 2023 meet the applicable independence criteria.
The compensation committee may create one or more subcommittees, each subcommittee to consist of one or more members of the committee, and may delegate to the subcommittee any or all of the powers and authority of the committee.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
The following individuals served on the compensation committee during 2023: Donald J. Stebbins, Michael C. Arnold,
Richard P. Grimley, Lauralee E. Martin, Brett E. Wilcox, and Kevin W. Williams. None of the members of the compensation committee during 2023, (1) was an officer or employee of our company, (2) was formerly an officer of our company, or (3) had any relationships requiring disclosure by us under the rules of the SEC with respect to certain relationships and related-party transactions. Furthermore, none of our executive officers currently serves, or served during the last fiscal year, as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving on our board of directors or compensation committee.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
The nominating and corporate governance committee of our board oversees the succession planning of our board, including the succession planning of our board leadership. The nominating and corporate governance committee identifies individuals qualified to become members of our board of directors, recommends candidates to fill vacancies and
41
newly-created positions on our board of directors, recommends director nominees for election by stockholders at the annual meetings of stockholders and develops and recommends to our board of directors our corporate governance guidelines.
We believe that the nominating and corporate governance committee considers an appropriate range of criteria in assessing candidates for a position on the board of directors. Our corporate governance guidelines require that the criteria utilized by the corporate governance committee in assessing such candidates include factors such as judgment, diversity, integrity, experience with businesses and other organizations of comparable size, the interplay of a candidate's experience with the experience of other members of the board of directors and anything else that may bear upon the extent to which a candidate would be a desirable addition to our board of directors and any committees of our board of directors. The policies relating to the recommendation of director candidates adopted by the nominating and corporate governance committee are designed to ensure flexibility with respect to the process of evaluating candidates and do not establish specific minimum qualifications that an individual must meet to become a member of our board of directors. The nominating and corporate governance committee believes that our company is best served when it can draw from a variety of experiences and backgrounds provided by members of our board of directors. However, the nominating and corporate governance committee also believes that our company is best served when the members of the board of directors:
The nominating and corporate governance committee also assists management in the succession planning of our executive officers, including our CEO. At least annually, the nominating and corporate governance committee reports to the full board on succession planning, including the contingencies in case the Chairman of the Board, CEO or Lead Independent Directors retires, resigns or is incapacitated.
Other duties and responsibilities of the nominating and corporate governance committee include:
The nominating and corporate governance committee has adopted policies and procedures by which our stockholders may submit director candidates to the nominating and corporate governance committee for consideration. If the nominating and corporate governance committee receives, by a date not less than 120, nor more than 150, calendar days before the
42
anniversary of the date that the proxy statement was mailed to stockholders in connection with our previous year's annual meeting, a recommendation for a director nominee from a stockholder or group of stockholders that beneficially owned more than 5% of our outstanding common stock for at least one year as of the date of the recommendation, then such director candidate will be considered and evaluated by the nominating and corporate governance committee for the annual meeting immediately succeeding the date that proper written notice was timely delivered to and received by the nominating and corporate governance committee. When the date of our annual meeting of stockholders changes by more than 30 calendar days from the previous year's annual meeting, the written notice of the recommendation for the director candidate will be considered timely if, and only if, it is received by the nominating and corporate governance committee no later than the close of business on the tenth calendar day following the first day on which notice of the date of the upcoming annual meeting is publicly disclosed by us.
Written notice from an eligible stockholder or group of eligible stockholders to the nominating and corporate governance committee recommending a director candidate must contain or be accompanied by:
The notice must be signed by each stockholder submitting the proposal and the director candidate. The notice must be sent to the following address by registered or certified mail: Kaiser Aluminum Corporation, Attn: Corporate Secretary (Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee), 1550 West McEwen Drive, Suite 500, Franklin, Tennessee 37067.
The nominating and corporate governance committee charter requires that all members of the nominating and corporate governance committee satisfy, and all members of the nominating and corporate governance committee during 2023 satisfied, the general independence criteria. In addition, the members of the nominating and corporate governance committee must include at least one of the directors nominated by the USW.
Sustainability Committee
The sustainability committee of our board of directors, formerly known as the ESG committee, assists the board of directors in discharging its responsibilities relating to our corporate values, talent development and diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging ("DEIB") initiatives. We consider our corporate values, talent development and DEIB priorities throughout the Company and recognize that, over the long term, our commitment to each and the sustainability of our business and creation of long-term value for our stakeholders provide competitive advantages.
43
The sustainability committee reviews and evaluates the development training of our employees, the diversity of our management and workforce, and our DEIB initiatives. In addition, the sustainability committee provides more focused oversight of the Company’s strategic sustainability activities and initiatives, consistent with our corporate values, including (1) the review, on a periodic basis, of our corporate values and key initiatives supporting our corporate values, (2) the oversight of the preparation and publication of our annual sustainability reports, (3) the oversight of our key sustainability strategies and initiatives, including (a) internal and external metrics and goals with respect to greenhouse gas emissions and other related sustainability metrics, (b) our sustainability performance, (c) our sustainability-related risks and opportunities, including climate-related risks and opportunities, and (d) emerging trends and investor expectations regarding sustainability topics, and (4) the review of our leadership and development programs and training.
Board and Committee Meetings and Consents in 2023
During 2023, our board of directors held four meetings and acted by unanimous written consent six times. In addition to meetings of our board of directors, directors attended meetings of committees of our board of directors. Each director attended at least 75% of the aggregate number of meetings that our board of directors held during the period the director was on our board of directors in 2023 and each committee on which the director served held during the period the director served on such committee in 2023.
Annual Meetings of Stockholders
Members of our board of directors are expected to make reasonable efforts to attend our annual meetings of stockholders. All of our directors then serving attended our 2023 annual meeting of stockholders.
Annual Performance Reviews
We conduct robust annual board and committee assessments using internal and/or external resources. Under our corporate governance guidelines, our board of directors is required to conduct an annual self-evaluation to determine whether our board of directors and its committees are functioning effectively. The charter for each committee of our board of directors also requires each committee to annually evaluate its performance. The nominating and corporate governance committee reviews the annual evaluation process and modifies the process as it deems appropriate.
In addition to the evaluation performed by the nominating and corporate governance committee, our nominating and corporate governance committee periodically engage an independent third party to engage in discussions with each of directors individually. The results from the interviews are summarized and reviewed with the nominating and corporate governance committee and the board of directors. The Executive Chairman and the Lead Independent Director also meet with each director individually to discuss board and committee performance. In addition, we coordinate with the USW not less than annually to discuss (i) our most recent assessment of strategic board skills, experience, attributes of all directors, (ii) desired strategic board skills, experience, attributes and priorities in the context of anticipated vacancies and upcoming elections and (iii) each board member nominated by the USW and contemplated future USW nominees in light of these considerations.
Stockholder Engagement
We value stockholder feedback and insights and believe that accountability to stockholders is an essential component of good governance. We engage in ongoing, proactive discussions of a variety of topics with significant stockholders throughout the year. Such discussions include our CEO, Executive Chairman, Lead Independent Director and/or other members of senior management as requested by our stockholders. In addition to providing our perspective and seeking feedback on topics specific to our company, we invite discussion on any other topics or trends stockholders may wish to discuss with us. The feedback provided by stockholders is reported to the full board of directors. Our board of directors reviews the feedback and determines whether additional discussion and actions are necessary by the full board or any board committees. In 2023, in addition to interactions regarding our financial performance, we engaged with stockholders representing approximately 50% of shares outstanding on matters relating to our long-term business strategy and performance; operations, including our Packaging business; board structure and leadership succession planning; executive compensation and our annual Sustainability Report as well as related sustainability matters. This information is also reviewed by members of our senior management and the full board of directors.
44
Sustainable Value Creation
Our corporate values define the way in which we pursue sustainable business value, serving as the foundation for our culture and our strategic ambitions. We manage our business for long-term value creation in a manner that is economically, environmentally and socially responsible. Below are highlights of our accomplishments in 2023 and their alignment with our five corporate values:
Preferred Investment |
||
● |
Maintained corporate governance best practices, including: |
|
|
● |
82% Independent Board |
|
● |
Separate CEO and Chairman |
|
● |
Diverse Board - over 18% gender diversity and 27% ethnic diversity |
|
● |
Executed the planned transitions of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee chairmanship and Lead Independent Director role |
|
● |
Robust and multi-tiered board and committee annual assessment process |
|
● |
Rigorous director nominating process, including for directors nominated by USW under our Director Designation Agreement |
● |
Continued progress on sustainability goals and development of new initiatives to support our business strategy |
|
● |
Continued annual employee surveys, which gauge effectiveness of our corporate governance measures as well as employees' perception of our culture and values |
|
● |
Alignment with six of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals consistent with key focus areas and goals of the business to help guide our sustainable value creation |
Preferred Supplier |
|
● |
On track to meet our 2030 GHG emissions reduction targets to reduce our total Scope 1 and 2 emissions intensity by 20%, Scope 3 estimated emissions intensity by 35%, and Scope 1, 2 and 3 estimated emissions intensity by 30%, each in comparison to 2019 levels |
● |
Continued transformational project to enable Warrick to source electricity from the local utility grid, which gives the facility access to a cleaner grid factor and renewable energy |
● |
Continued to diversify Warrick's primary aluminum supplies to sources with lower carbon footprints |
● |
Continued to optimize our use of recycled and scrap aluminum |
Preferred Customer |
|
● |
Implementation of a stand-alone Supplier Code of Conduct Policy in 2023 requiring any company or entity that sells products or services to the Company to act in accordance with the principles and guidelines reflected in the policy |
● |
Continued engagement with suppliers to advance collective sustainability goals and support continuous improvement of both environmental and social practices |
Preferred Employer |
|
● |
Maintained solid safety performance, including improved TCIR and DART rate and continued strong LCIR performance, in a challenging labor market and continued focus on leading indicators to prevent safety incidents |
● |
Continued to expand recruitment, development, promotion and retention strategies for qualified people from all cultures and segments of the population |
● |
Continued our leadership and development training, including the Kaiser Leadership Program, Kaiser Women's Leadership Program, Front Line Leadership Development Program and Metallurgy Excellence and Technical Strength Program |
● |
Continued to incorporate diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging education and awareness into training resources and development programs |
Valued Corporate Citizen |
|
● |
Continued active engagement with stockholders, including meeting with stockholders holding more than 50% of our outstanding shares |
● |
Continued participation in charitable outreach as well as contribution to and sponsorship of community-driven organizations and events |
45
2024 and Beyond
We recognize that long-term excellence requires sustainable business practices and strong governance. Accordingly, we intend to continue our efforts to advance our sustainability and governance as a company, including our efforts to:
Stock Ownership Guidelines and Securities Trading Policy
Our stock ownership guidelines require our non-employee directors to own company stock equal to six times their annual base retainer within five years of becoming a member of our board of directors. For purposes of measuring compliance with our stock ownership guidelines, restricted stock is valued at the closing price of our common stock on the grant date and all other shares of common stock purchased or acquired are valued at the purchase price of such shares. Except for Messrs. Arnold, Grimley and Williams, who joined the board in the past few years, and Ms. Martin, each of our non-employee directors satisfies the applicable stock ownership requirements under the stock ownership guidelines. Messrs. Arnold, Grimley and Williams are on track to meet our stock ownership requirements. Ms. Martin, who previously met the applicable stock ownership requirements but is no longer deemed the beneficial owner of certain shares gifted to a family trust, is currently retaining at least 75% of net shares resulting from equity compensation awards until she comes into compliance with the applicable stock ownership requirement. Our stock ownership guidelines also apply to senior management. For additional information regarding our stock ownership guidelines, see "Executive Compensation - Stock Ownership Guidelines."
Our securities trading policy prohibits our directors, employees, including our named executive officers, and independent directors, and members of their immediate families, from purchasing financial instruments to hedge or offset, or otherwise engaging in transactions designed to hedge or offset, decreases in the market value of our equity securities, whether granted as part of compensation to, or otherwise held directly or indirectly by, such director or employee. Prohibited transactions include short sales, options, puts, calls and derivative instruments such as swaps, forwards, collars and futures. Our securities trading policy also prohibits our directors, employees, including our named executive officers, and independent contractors, and members of their immediate families, from buying our securities on margin (other than purchases where the related margin borrowings are effected solely for the purpose of paying the option exercise price upon the exercise of an option to purchase shares from the Company, which are typically referred to as “cashless exercises”), holding our securities in a margin account, pledging our securities as collateral for a loan or any other obligations or entering into share lending programs.
Risks Arising from Compensation Policies and Practices
Our compensation policies and practices, discussed more fully below, are designed to create and maintain alignment between our employees and stockholders by rewarding employees, including our senior management, for achieving strategic goals that successfully drive our operations and enhance stockholder value and to preclude the taking of unreasonable risks through the use of incentive compensation that rewards decisions that result in strong performance in both the short-and long-term. We do not believe that our compensation policies and practices encourage decisions or actions which are likely to have a material adverse effect on our company. Our determination is based on, among other factors, the following:
46
Stockholder Communications with the Board of Directors
Our stockholders may communicate with our board of directors as a group or with the chair of the executive committee, audit committee, compensation committee or nominating and corporate governance committee by sending an email to boardofdirectors@kaiseraluminum.com, execchair@kaiseraluminum.com, auditchair@kaiseraluminum.com, compchair@kaiseraluminum.com, or nominatingchair@kaiseraluminum.com, respectively, or by writing to such group or person at Kaiser Aluminum Corporation, Attn: Corporate Secretary (Board of Directors), 1550 West McEwen Drive, Suite 500, Franklin, Tennessee 37067. Communications that are intended specifically for any other group of directors or for any individual director, such as the independent directors as a group or the Lead Independent Director, should be sent to the attention of our corporate secretary at the address above or via email to corpsecretary@kaiseraluminum.com and should clearly state the individual director or group of directors that is the intended recipient of the communication.
Our corporate secretary will review each communication and determine whether or not the communication is appropriate for delivery. Communications that, in the judgment of our corporate secretary, are clearly of a marketing nature, that advocate that our company engage in illegal activity, that do not reasonably relate to our company or our business or that are similarly inappropriate will not be furnished to the intended recipient. If, in the judgment of the corporate secretary, any communication pertains to an accounting matter, it will be forwarded to our compliance officer.
Communications that, in the judgment of our corporate secretary, are appropriate for delivery will, unless requiring immediate attention, be assembled and delivered to the intended recipients on a periodic basis, generally at or in advance of each regularly scheduled meeting of our board of directors. Any communication that, in the judgment of our corporate secretary, requires immediate attention will be promptly delivered. In no case will the corporate secretary provide anyone but a member of our board of directors with access to any such communication, except as noted above with respect to communications pertaining to accounting matters.
47
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following table sets forth the names and ages of each of our executive officers and the positions they held as of April 17, 2024, the record date.
Name |
|
Age |
|
Position(s) |
Keith A. Harvey |
|
64 |
|
President and Chief Executive Officer |
Neal E. West |
|
65 |
|
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
John M. Donnan |
|
63 |
|
Executive Vice President - Legal, Compliance and Human Resources |
Vijai Narayan |
|
46 |
|
Vice President, Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer |
Raymond D. Parkinson |
|
65 |
|
Senior Vice President - Advanced Engineering and Innovation |
Blain A. Tiffany |
|
65 |
|
Executive Vice President - Sales and Marketing |
Jason D. Walsh |
|
44 |
|
Executive Vice President - Manufacturing |
Set forth below are brief descriptions of the business experience of each of our executive officers.
Keith A. Harvey has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer since July 2020. He previously served as President and Chief Operating Officer from December 2015 to July 2020, Executive Vice President - Fabricated Products from June 2014 to December 2015, Senior Vice President - Sales and Marketing, Aerospace and General Engineering from June 2012 to June 2014, Vice President - Sales and Marketing, Aerospace and General Engineering from 2000 to June 2012 and as our Vice President - Sales and Marketing of Extruded Products from 1996 to 2000. Mr. Harvey joined Kaiser in 1981 as an industrial engineer at the Company’s former rolling mill in West Virginia. He subsequently held positions of increasing responsibility in engineering and sales at several Kaiser locations and was named a Vice President in 1994. Mr. Harvey holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from West Virginia University.
Neal E. West has served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since March 2021 and as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from February 2019 to March 2021. Mr. West joined our company in June 2008 as Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer. Prior to joining Kaiser, Mr. West served as the Principal Accounting Officer of Gateway, Inc. from June 2005 to May 2008. Mr. West was also the Vice President and Corporate Controller of Gateway, Inc. from April 2005 to May 2008. Prior to joining Gateway, Inc., Mr. West was the Vice President and Controller for APL Logistics, Ltd. from April 2000 to April 2005. In addition, Mr. West has held a number of finance, service and support positions at APL Ltd. Mr. West also previously worked for Standard Pacific and West-Tronics, Inc. as Division Controller and Financial Manager. Mr. West is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Management Accountant and holds a Master of Science degree in information systems from Roosevelt University and a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and business administration from Illinois State University.
John M. Donnan has served as our Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel since March 2021. Mr. Donnan is responsible for our company’s corporate legal, compliance, internal audit, environmental, safety, quality and human resources functions. He previously served as our Executive Vice President – Legal, Compliance and Human Resources from June 2012 to March 2021, our Senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel from December 2007 to June 2012 and as our Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel from January 2005 to December 2007. Mr. Donnan joined the legal staff of Kaiser in 1993 and was named Deputy General Counsel of Kaiser in 2000. Prior to joining Kaiser, Mr. Donnan was an associate in the Houston, Texas office of the law firm of Chamberlain, Hrdlicka, White, Williams & Martin. He holds a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law and Bachelor of Business Administration degrees in finance and accounting from Texas Tech University. He is a member of the Texas and California bars.
Vijai Narayan has served as our Vice President, Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer since April 2024. Mr. Narayan joined our company in November 2022 as Vice President - Finance and served as Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer from June 2023 to April 2024. Prior to joining Kaiser, Mr. Narayan was Vice President Finance and Controller of eviCore Healthcare, a subsidiary of Cigna Corporation from April 2020 to November 2022. Previously, Mr. Narayan was a Partner in the Financial Accounting Advisory Services practice of Ernst & Young LLP. Mr. Narayan holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Mumbai and a Master of Accountancy and Master of Business Administration from Bowling Green State University. He is also a Certified Public Accountant, licensed in the State of Tennessee.
Raymond D. Parkinson has served as our Senior Vice President - Advanced Engineering and Innovation since April 2024. He previously served as Senior Vice President - Advanced Engineering from January 2020 to April 2024 and Vice President -
48
Advanced Engineering from 2001 to January 2020. Dr. Parkinson joined Kaiser in 1986 as technical director for extruded products and has more than 30 years of experience in sales, operations, quality control, engineering and research and development in diverse manufacturing environments. Dr. Parkinson has a Ph.D. in metallurgy, as well as Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Engineering, from Imperial College in the United Kingdom and a Master of Business Administration from St. Mary’s College. Dr. Parkinson is also a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining.
Blain A. Tiffany has served as Executive Vice President – Sales and Marketing since April 2022. Mr. Tiffany previously served as Senior Vice President – Sales and Marketing from January 2020 to April 2022 and as Vice President – Sales & Marketing, High Strength and General Engineering Products from July 2014 to December 2020. Mr. Tiffany joined Kaiser in 2013 as Vice President - Marketing, Hard Alloy Extrusions, Pipe and Tube. Prior to joining Kaiser, Mr. Tiffany held several senior management positions during his 34 years in metals distribution. He was most recently with A.M. Castle & Co. where during his 13 years with the company he served as President of the Steel Plate division, President of the Aerospace division and President of the Industrial division. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Almeda College and completed the Strategic Metals Management Program at the Olin Business School Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.
Jason D. Walsh has served as our Executive Vice President – Manufacturing since April 2022. Mr. Walsh previously served as Senior Vice President – Manufacturing from August 2020 to April 2022 , as Senior Vice President – Flat Rolled Products from June 2018 to August 2020, as Vice President and General Manager – Automotive and Soft Alloy from January 2018 to June 2018, as Vice President and General Manager – Automotive from February 2017 to December 2017, and as Vice President – Financial, Planning and Analysis from April 2012 to January 2017. Mr. Walsh joined Kaiser in 2006 as Manager, Financial Planning & Analysis and served as Group Controller, Common Alloy Products and Director, Financial Planning & Analysis. Prior to joining Kaiser, he held positions of increasing responsibility in manufacturing operations with Caterpillar Inc. He holds a Master of Business Administration degree in Finance from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Compensation Committee Report
The compensation committee has reviewed and discussed with management the CD&A section included below. Based on its review and discussions with management, the compensation committee recommended to the board of directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement and incorporated by reference into our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 23, 2024.
This report is submitted by the members of the compensation committee of the board of directors:
Compensation Committee
Donald J. Stebbins (Chair)
Richard P. Grimley
Lauralee E. Martin
Brett E. Wilcox
Kevin W. Williams
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
Introduction
This section provides:
49
Name |
|
Title |
Keith A Harvey |
|
Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) |
John M. Donnan |
|
Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel |
Neal E. West |
|
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer) |
Jason D. Walsh |
|
Executive Vice President - Manufacturing |
Raymond D. Parkinson |
|
Senior Vice President - Advanced Engineering and Innovation |
2023 Performance Highlights
Despite its challenges, 2023 was a foundational year for us as we laid the groundwork necessary to position us for long-term sustainable and increasing profitable growth in the years to come. Our focused execution led us to end the year in a solid position.
The table below highlights our 2023 financial performance:
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shipments |
|
Net Sales |
|
Net Income |
|
Adjusted Net Income (1) |
|
Conversion Revenue (1) |
|
Adjusted EBITDA (1) |
|
Net Income Per Diluted Share |
|
Adjusted Net Income Per Diluted Share (1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1.2 |
|
$3.1 |
|
$47 |
|
$44 |
|
$1.47 |
|
$210 |
|
$2.92 |
|
$2.74 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Billion lbs |
|
Billion |
|
Million |
|
Million |
|
Billion |
|
Million |
|
|
|
|
_____________
(1) |
See Appendix A of this Proxy Statement for reconciliations of measures from generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) to non-GAAP. While our use of terms such as earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”), “adjusted” or “Conversion Revenue” are not intended to be (and should not be relied on) in lieu of the comparable captions under GAAP to which these metrics are reconciled, those terms are intended to provide greater clarity of the impact of certain material items on the GAAP measure and are not intended to imply those terms should be excluded. |
We remain well positioned in the current demand environment as a key supplier in diverse end markets with multi-year contracts with strategic partners and expect demand will continue to improve across key markets throughout 2024.
50
Balanced Capital Allocation Priorities
Our capital allocation strategy focuses on organic investment, external growth and returning cash to stockholders through dividends and share repurchase.
1 Excess cash is liquidity beyond the minimum required in contingency planning for an economic downturn.
Organic Investment Strategy
51
Inorganic Investment Strategy
We use a strategic filter to review all potential acquisitions. We will not engage in an acquisition unless it has a strategic rationale that passes the strategic filter.
Value Returned to Stockholders
We also expect to continue to pay regular dividends. Since 2007, we have returned approximately $987 million to stockholders through quarterly dividends and share repurchases.
1 Return to shareholders from January 1, 2007 through December 31, 2023.
Overview of the Compensation Committee
The compensation committee of our board of directors is comprised entirely of independent directors. By design, members of the compensation committee also serve on other board committees, including the executive committee, the audit committee, the nominating and corporate governance committee and the sustainability committee. We believe this structure helps coordinate the efforts of the respective committees. The compensation committee's primary duties and responsibilities are to establish and implement our compensation policies and programs for senior management. While the nominating and corporate governance committee has the responsibility to evaluate the overall performance of our CEO, the compensation committee coordinates with and assists the nominating and corporate governance committee in that evaluation.
52
The compensation committee has the authority under its charter to engage the services of outside advisors, experts and others to assist it. Pursuant to that authority, the compensation committee engaged Meridian to advise it on all matters related to compensation of our CEO and other members of senior management, including the other named executive officers.
The compensation committee meets formally and informally throughout the year. Informal meetings frequently occur when our directors are together for meetings of our full board of directors and virtually at the request of one or more committee members. Our CEO, other members of our management and outside advisors may be invited to attend all or a portion of a compensation committee meeting depending on the nature of the agenda items; however, neither our CEO nor any other member of management votes on items before the compensation committee.
The compensation committee works with our senior management and Meridian to determine the agenda for its formal meetings and to prepare meeting materials. The compensation committee and our board of directors also solicit the views of our CEO on compensation matters, including, among others:
Objectives of our Compensation Structure
Our compensation structure was developed to achieve the following objectives, which we believe are critical for enhancing stockholder value and to our long-term success and sustainability:
Design of our 2023 Compensation Program
Our 2023 compensation program for our senior management, including our named executive officers, was designed to reinforce performance and accountability at the corporate, operational and individual levels through the use of:
In addition to focusing on "pay for performance," our 2023 compensation program:
53
Periodically, but not less than annually, each element of compensation is reviewed and considered by the compensation committee and our board of directors both individually and collectively with the other elements of compensation to ensure that each element is consistent with the objectives of both our comprehensive compensation structure and that particular element of compensation. The compensation committee and our board of directors share suggestions or concerns identified in the course of that review with senior management and Meridian, who address the suggestions or concerns in a manner that is satisfactory to the compensation committee and our board of directors. This process occurs over a series of meetings of the compensation committee and our board of directors and executive sessions of the independent directors without members of management present.
In designing the overall compensation program and each individual element of compensation for senior management, including our named executive officers, the compensation committee considers the following factors, among others:
The compensation committee generally uses tally and other summary sheets that provide a summary of the compensation history of our CEO and those members of our senior management reporting to our CEO. These tally and information sheets include a historical summary of base salary, annual bonus and equity awards.
In reviewing and deliberating our 2023 compensation program, the compensation committee considered, among other things:
54
The review included discussions with Meridian and management regarding existing and contemplated market practices, as well as the structure and objectives of each component of our compensation program.
The compensation committee also reviews the compensation and benefit practices, as well as levels of pay, of a compensation peer group of companies. Working with Meridian, the compensation committee selects for inclusion in our compensation peer group companies that are determined to:
The compensation committee, working with Meridian, reviews, evaluates and updates our compensation peer group, which includes companies in both similar and different industries, at least annually. For 2023, the compensation committee approved a 25-company peer group. Compared to the peer group used for 2022, one company, SPX FLOW, Inc., was removed due to its acquisition by another company. As of December 2022, the new custom peer group had (1) market capitalization ranging from approximately $651 million to approximately $15.8 billion and a median market capitalization of approximately $3.7 billion, and (2) trailing 12 months revenues ranging from $2.0 billion to approximately $9.2 billion and median revenue of approximately $4.1 billion. Our market capitalization and revenue, both as of December 31, 2022, were $1.2 billion and $3.4 billion, respectively.
Allegheny Technologies Incorporated |
|
Louisiana-Pacific Corporation |
Arconic Corporation |
|
Mueller Industries, Inc, |
Cabot Corporation |
|
Resolute Forest Products Inc. |
Carpenter Technology Corporation |
|
Ryerson Holding Corporation |
Clearwater Paper Corporation |
|
Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. |
Commercial Metals Company |
|
Silgan Holdings Inc. |
Donaldson Company, Inc. |
|
The TimKen Company |
Greif, Inc. |
|
Trinseo PLC |
Hillenbrand, Inc. |
|
Valmont Industries, Inc. |
Howmet Aerospace Inc. |
|
Watts Water Technologies, Inc. |
ITT Inc. |
|
Woodward, Inc. |
John Bean Technologies Corporation |
|
Worthington Industries, Inc. |
Kennametal Inc. |
|
|
Due to the differences in size among the companies in our peer group, Meridian uses a regression analysis to adjust survey data results based on our revenue as compared to the revenue of other companies in our peer group. Importantly, the compensation committee recognizes that we compete for talent with companies much larger than us. These larger companies, including Arconic Corporation, Constellium SE, Novelis Inc. and Norsk Hydro ASA, aggressively recruit talent in critical functions. As a result, to attract and retain talent, the compensation committee may from time to time determine that it is in the best interests of our company and our stockholders to provide compensation packages that deviate from targeted pay levels. For 2023, in addition to data obtained from publicly disclosed proxy statements, Meridian also provided data obtained from Equilar Executive Compensation Survey. We did not select the constituent companies comprising this survey group, however, and the component companies’ identities were not a material factor in the applicable compensation analysis.
For 2024, the compensation committee approved the same peer group as 2023, except for the removal of Arconic Corporation and Resolute Forest Products Inc., which were taken private and acquired, respectively, and, as a result, would no longer publish compensation information.
55
Principal Elements of 2023 Compensation
The table below summarizes the key elements of our named executive officers' compensation in 2023:
Principal Elements |
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Element |
|
Form |
|
Objective |
|
Performance Metric |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Base Salary |
|
Cash |
|
|
Provide a competitive, fixed compensation upon which our named executive officers can rely. |
|
No performance metric. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Short-Term Incentives |
|
Cash |
|
|
Create financial incentive for |
|
Adjusted EBITDA |
|
|
|
|
|
achieving or exceeding company |
|
Safety |
|
|
|
|
|
performance goals. |
|
Quality |
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|
Delivery |
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|
Productivity |
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|
Modified for individual performance |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-Term Incentives |
|
Restricted Stock Units |
|
|
Create financial incentive for continued employment with our company through three-year cliff vesting |
|
No performance metric (retention-based and "at risk" to the extent underlying performance impacts stock price) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Performance Shares |
|
|
Create financial incentive for achieving or exceeding long-term performance goals. |
|
60%: Relative TSR (compared to peer companies in the S&P 600 SmallCap Materials and 400 MidCap Materials Indices) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
40%: Adjusted EBITDA Margin performance |
Each compensation element is discussed in detail below.
2023 base salary
The compensation committee annually reviews base salaries for our CEO and other executive officers, including our other named executive officers, and determines whether a change is appropriate. In reviewing base salaries, the compensation committee considers factors, including, among others:
Our intent is to fix base salaries at levels consistent with the design of our overall compensation program for the particular year. In 2023, the base salaries of our named executive officers were increased by between 6% to 10%, principally to align their base salaries more closely with market and survey information.
56
Base salary rates for our named executive officers in 2023, effective April 1, 2023, were as follows:
Name |
|
2022 Base Salary |
|
|
2023 Base Salary Rate |
|
||
Keith A. Harvey |
|
$ |
935,000 |
|
|
$ |
1,000,000 |
|
John M. Donnan |
|
$ |
495,000 |
|
|
$ |
525,000 |
|
Neal E. West |
|
$ |
490,000 |
|
|
$ |
540,000 |
|
Jason D. Walsh |
|
$ |
465,000 |
|
|
$ |
500,000 |
|
Raymond D. Parkinson |
|
$ |
400,000 |
|
|
$ |
440,000 |
|
2023 short-term incentive
The table below summarizes the performance metrics under our 2023 STI Plan:
Incentive Program |
|
Performance Metric |
|
Weighting |
|
Modifier* |
|
Impact on Multiplier |
|
Short-Term Incentive Plan |
|
Adjusted EBITDA |
|
60% |
|
Individual |
|
+/- 25% |
|
|
|
Safety |
|
10% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quality |
|
10% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Delivery |
|
10% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Productivity |
|
10% |
|
|
|
|
|
_______________
* Safety performance is measured using our TCIR and LCIR. Quality performance is measured using our no-fault claim rate. Delivery performance is measured by our on-time delivery rate. Productivity is measured by our earned dollars per labor hour. As noted, the individual modifier is discretionary and only used in exceptional instances approved by the compensation committee based on actual performance, including individual, facility and/or functional area performance, as well as performance against other strategic initiatives. Individual awards for each named executive officer may be adjusted up or down 25% in recognition of exceptional performance, including individual, facility, and/or functional area performance.
The following summarizes the key features of our 2023 STI Plan:
FEATURES |
|
|
Pay for performance |
|
Rigorous performance goals based on Adjusted EBITDA, safety, quality, delivery and productivity |
|
Strong linkage between performance goals and financial performance as well as strategic non-financial results |
|
In exceptional instances approved by the compensation committee, individual adjustment up to plus or minus 25% based on actual performance, including individual, facility and/or functional area performance, as well as performance against other strategic initiatives |
|
Maximum payout capped at 2.5 times the target |
Our 2023 STI Plan was an annual cash incentive plan designed to reward participants for achieving certain Adjusted EBITDA, safety, quality, delivery and productivity performance goals. Consistent with the short-term incentive plan approved by the compensation committee in 2022, our 2023 STI Plan also permitted adjustments to individual payouts, in exceptional instances, up to plus or minus 25% for our named executive officers, based on actual performance, including individual and/or functional area performance as well as performance against other strategic initiatives, subject to the maximum payout opportunity described above. The structure, terms and metrics of the 2023 STI Plan applicable to the named executive officers were generally consistent with those of the short-term incentive plan approved by the compensation committee in 2022, except that safety, quality, and delivery performance were changed from modifiers to performance metrics, the cost modifier was eliminated and productivity was added as a performance metric, so that the individual target payouts under the proposed STI plan are based 60% on Adjusted EBITDA performance, 5% on TCIR performance, 5% on LCIR performance, 10% on quality performance, 10% on delivery performance, and 10% on productivity performance.
Consistent with our objective of aligning senior management and our stockholders by rewarding our senior management for achieving strategic goals that successfully drive our operations and enhance our stockholder value, our 2023 STI Plan
57
provided that Adjusted EBITDA performance in excess of the threshold level would result in an increase in payouts up to the maximum payout opportunity with respect to such metric. Under our 2023 STI Plan, potential payouts between the threshold and target levels and between the target and maximum levels for Adjusted EBITDA were linearly interpolated.
The table on the right illustrates our annual Adjusted EBITDA performance multiplier for the last three years under our short-term incentive plans before the application of modifiers. See Appendix A to this Proxy Statement for reconciliations of GAAP to non-GAAP measures. After the application of modifiers, the final multipliers under our short-term incentive plans for 2021 and 2022 were 0.65x and 0.00x, respectively. As discussed below, the final multiplier under our 2023 STI Plan, after taking into consideration all the performance metrics, was 0.86x. |
|
|
The final multiplier of our 2023 STI Plan was 0.86x. The table below summarizes the performance metrics and payout potential under our 2023 STI Plan and our performance against each of the metrics:
Metric |
Weighting |
Payout Potential |
Final Multiplier |
|||
Below Threshold |
Threshold |
Target |
Maximum |
|||
Adjusted EBITDA |
60% |
0.00x |
0.30x |
0.60x |
1.80x |
0.70x |
TCIR |
5% |
0.00x |
0.00x |
0.05x |
0.05x |
0.02x |
LCIR |
5% |
0.00x |
0.00x |
0.05x |
0.05x |
0.05x |
Quality |
10% |
0.00x |
0.00x |
0.10x |
0.10x |
0.00x |
Delivery |
10% |
0.00x |
0.00x |
0.10x |
0.10x |
0.09x |
Productivity |
10% |
0.00x |
0.00x |
0.10x |
0.10x |
0.00x |
Total |
100% |
0.00x |
0.30x |
1.00x |
2.20x |
0.86x |
The performance required at each performance level for each performance metric and our actual performance are summarized in the table below:
Metric |
Level of Performance Required |
Actual Performance |
Final Multiplier |
||
Threshold |
Target |
Maximum |
|||
Adjusted EBITDA |
$125 Million |
$180 Million |
$540 Million |
$210 Million |
0.70x |
TCIR |
2.50 |
1.25 |
N/A |
1.99 |
0.02x |
LCIR |
0.50 |
0.35 |
N/A |
0.28 |
0.05x |
Quality |
0.3% |
0.2% |
N/A |
0.6% |
0.00x |
Delivery |
85% |
90% |
N/A |
89% |
0.09x |
Productivity |
$108 |
$113 |
N/A |
$106 |
0.00x |
Total |
|
|
|
|
0.86x |
58
The table below sets forth the possible payouts that could have been earned by our named executive officers at each performance level, before any individual modifier, and the actual amounts earned by them under the 2023 STI Plan. In 2023, the short-term incentive targets of our named executive officers were increased by between 13% to 22%, principally to align their targets more closely with market and survey information.
Name |
|
Below |
|
|
Threshold |
|
Target |
|
Maximum |
|
Actual |
|||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Keith A. Harvey |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
$ |
345,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,150,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
2,530,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
985,550 |
|
|
John M. Donnan |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
$ |
120,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
400,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
880,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
342,800 |
|
|
Neal E. West |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
$ |
120,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
400,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
880,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
342,800 |
|
|
Jason D. Walsh |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
$ |
105,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
350,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
770,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
299,950 |
|
|
Raymond D. Parkinson |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
$ |
60,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
200,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
440,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
171,400 |
|
|
2023-2025 long-term incentives
The table below summarizes the performance metrics for the performance shares granted under our 2023-2025 LTI Plan:
Incentive Program |
|
Performance Metric |
|
Weighting |
Long-Term Incentive Plan |
|
Relative TSR |
|
60% |
|
|
Adjusted EBITDA margin |
|
40% |
The following summarizes the key features of our 2023-2025 long-term incentive plan:
FEATURES |
||
|
Three-year performance period for performance shares (2023-2025) |
|
|
Includes retention features by utilizing time-vested restricted stock units representing approximately 40% of the long-term incentive target for our named executive officers |
|
|
Pay for performance by utilizing performance shares subject to demanding metrics |
|
|
Performance metrics: |
|
|
(1) |
40% based on Adjusted EBITDA margin |
|
(2) |
60% based on relative TSR |
|
Payout for relative TSR performance is capped at target if TSR is negative |
|
|
No windfall upon a change in control for performance shares - only shares earned based on performance through the date of the change in control will vest |
We believe that consistent execution of our strategy over multi-year periods will lead to an increase in our TSR. We use equity awards to provide our named executive officers with an incentive to focus on long-term stockholder value creation. Our 2023- 2025 LTI Plan for key employees, including our named executive officers, was approved by the compensation committee on March 5, 2023, and the structure, terms and metrics of the 2023-2025 LTI Plan were generally consistent with those of the long-term incentive plan approved by the compensation committee in 2022 for our named executive officers.
Since 2014, we have implemented long-term incentive programs with a performance metric based on TSR. In 2020, we expanded our TSR peer group from companies in the S&P SmallCap 600 Materials Index to companies in both the S&P SmallCap 600 Materials and S&P MidCap 400 Materials Indices. We added Adjusted EBITDA margin as a performance metric in 2020.
Our 2023-2025 LTI Plan provides, with respect to the restricted stock units granted to our named executive officers, that, subject to limited exceptions, such units will vest on March 5, 2026. Each restricted stock unit that becomes vested entitles the participant to receive one share of our common stock.
59
The 2023-2025 LTI Plan provides, with respect to the performance shares:
For 60% of the performance shares granted under our 2023-2025 LTI Plan, the payout will be determined based on our TSR relative to the TSR of our peer companies in the S&P SmallCap 600 Materials and S&P MidCap 400 Materials Indices as follows:
Percentile Ranking |
|
|
Multiplier |
|
< 25th |
|
|
0.0x |
|
25th |
|
|
0.5x |
|
50th |
|
|
1.0x |
|
75th |
|
|
1.5x |
|
≥ 90th |
|
|
2.0x |
|
In considering constituents for the S&P SmallCap 600 Materials and S&P MidCap 400 Materials Indices, S&P Dow Jones Indices currently looks for companies (1) with market capitalization of between $850 million and $5.2 billion and between $5.2 billion and $14.5 billion, respectively, (2) meeting certain float requirements, (3) with a U.S. domicile, (4) required to file SEC annual reports, and (5) listed on a major U.S. exchange, among other factors. The materials sector includes companies that manufacture chemicals, construction materials, glass, paper, forest products and related packaging products, and metals, minerals and mining companies.
For the remaining 40% of the performance shares granted under our 2023-2025 LTI Plan, the payout will be determined based on our Adjusted EBITDA margin using performance goals approved by the compensation committee.
For 2023, the compensation committee determined that each named executive officer should receive time-based restricted stock units having an economic value equal to approximately 40% of his target monetary value and a target number of performance shares having an economic value equal to approximately 60% of his target monetary value. In addition, the target monetary values under the 2023-2025 LTI Plan for our named executive officers, other than Mr. Walsh, were increased by between 3% to 13%, principally to align their targets more closely with market and survey information. The target monetary value for Mr. Walsh was increased by 56%, primarily to reflect the assumption of additional manufacturing responsibility for our Warrick operations in connection with his promotion from Senior Vice President - Manufacturing to Executive Vice President - Manufacturing in 2022.
The table below sets forth the target monetary value under our 2023-2025 LTI Plan and the number of restricted stock units and performance shares granted to our named executive officers during 2023:
Name |
|
Target Monetary |
|
Number of |
|
Number of |
||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
Keith A. Harvey |
|
|
$ |
3,700,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
17,429 |
|
|
|
|
|
26,144 |
|
|
John M. Donnan |
|
|
$ |
900,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
4,239 |
|
|
|
|
|
6,359 |
|
|
Neal E. West |
|
|
$ |
950,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
4,475 |
|
|
|
|
|
6,712 |
|
|
Jason D. Walsh |
|
|
$ |
600,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
2,826 |
|
|
|
|
|
4,239 |
|
|
Raymond D. Parkinson |
|
|
$ |
410,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
1,931 |
|
|
|
|
|
2,897 |
|
|
____________
60
Name |
|
Below Threshold |
|
|
Threshold |
|
Target |
|
Maximum |
|||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Keith A. Harvey |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
13,072 |
|
|
|
|
|
26,144 |
|
|
|
|
|
52,288 |
|
|
John M. Donnan |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
3,179 |
|
|
|
|
|
6,359 |
|
|
|
|
|
12,718 |
|
|
Neal E. West |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
3,356 |
|
|
|
|
|
6,712 |
|
|
|
|
|
13,424 |
|
|
Jason D. Walsh |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
2,119 |
|
|
|
|
|
4,239 |
|
|
|
|
|
8,478 |
|
|
Raymond D. Parkinson |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
1,448 |
|
|
|
|
|
2,897 |
|
|
|
|
|
5,794 |
|
|
The number of performance shares, if any, earned based on the level of performance achieved during the three-year performance period will vest on the later to occur of March 5, 2026 and the date on which the compensation committee certifies the performance level achieved during the three-year performance period, which will be no later than March 15, 2026. If, prior to December 31, 2025, the named executive officer's employment terminates as a result of disability or death, the target number of performance shares will vest and be earned. If, prior to the vesting date, the named executive officer's employment is terminated by us without cause or is voluntarily terminated by him for good reason, the performance shares granted to him will remain outstanding and the number of performance shares, if any, earned will be determined based on the performance level achieved during the three-year performance period. If, prior to December 31, 2025, a change in control occurs, the performance shares granted to him will vest and the number of performance shares, if any, earned will be determined based on the performance level achieved during the performance period through the change in control date.
The threshold, target and maximum number of performance shares that may be earned, if at all, in 2026 under our 2023-2025 LTI Plan are determined as follows:
In addition to the restricted stock units reflected in the table, Messrs. Walsh and Parkinson each received an additional grant of 2,500 and 10,000 restricted stock units, respectively, on March 5, 2023 to recognize their increasing responsibilities and roles in the future success of the Company and increase retention as the Company continues its focus on succession planning. The terms and conditions applicable to these restricted stock units are the same as the terms and conditions described above in Note (1) above.
Upon a change in control, all the restricted stock units will vest. However, the number of performance shares earned on change in control, if any, will be determined based on the performance level achieved against the underlying metrics applicable to the outstanding performance shares during the performance period through the date of the change in control ensuring that our named executive officers will only be rewarded for performance supporting strategic goals that successfully drive our operations and enhance our stockholder returns. We believe this structure (1) aligns the interests of our named executive officers with our stockholders, and (2) drives the performance required to meet our strategic initiatives and enhances stockholder alignment, particularly when considering that the performance shares granted to our named executive officers have an economic value equal to at least 60% of each named executive officer's long-term incentive target, and that
61
the performance shares earned, if any, upon a change in control will only be earned if the required performance level is achieved.
Results for 2021-2023 Performance Period
Similar to the 2023-2025 LTI Plan, our 2021-2023 LTI Plan utilized time-based restricted stock unit and performance share awards. The payout of the performance share awards under 2021-2023 LTI Plan was based 60% on our TSR performance relative to the TSR performance of our peers in the S&P SmallCap 600 Materials and S&P MidCap 400 Materials Indices, 20% on our controllable cost performance and 20% on our Adjusted EBITDA margin performance. On March 5, 2024, the three-year vesting period applicable to the grant of restricted stock units under our 2021-2023 LTI Plan ended and shares were issued in accordance with the terms of the underlying grants. In addition, in early 2024 our compensation committee determined that no performance shares were earned under our 2021-2023 LTI Plan based on our performance over the 2021 through 2023 performance period.
As previously discussed, despite the significant challenges during the three-year performance period, including the COVID-19 pandemic, inflationary cost pressures and labor turnover, the compensation committee, based on management’s recommendation, did not make any adjustments to the 2021-2023 LTI Plan to mitigate the impact on the payout. In 2021, those challenges primarily related to the COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain disruptions. While our end markets remained strong in 2022 and commercial aerospace demand continued to strengthen, those challenges primarily related to (i) the continuation of our supply chain disruptions, such as the continuing impact of the declaration of force majeure by Warrick’s primary magnesium supplier and ultimately the cessation of all magnesium deliveries from that supplier that led to our declaration of force majeure at Warrick, (ii) molten metal supply issues that negatively impacted Warrick, (iii) the inflationary environment and significant corresponding increases in costs, and (iv) a planned outage at Trentwood, all of which negatively impacted our financial performance. Despite our solid performance in 2023, it was not sufficient to overcome the impact of the challenges in 2021 and 2022 and reach the threshold performance required for a payout under the relative TSR, controllable cost or Adjusted EBITDA margin performance metrics under the 2021-2023 LTI Plan.
Our TSR is calculated based on the return of the 20-trading-day average closing prices between the beginning and the end of the applicable performance period, using the formula below. The average prices are based upon daily asset values, which represent adjusted stock prices for dividends reinvested throughout the period.
TSR = |
(Ending Average – Beginning Average) |
Beginning Average |
The calculation for the 2021 - 2023 TSR is as follows:
TSR = |
$73.23 – $94.92 |
= -22.85% |
$94.92 |
The beginning average price of $94.92 is based upon the 20-trading-day average closing stock prices of our common stock, assuming all dividends are reinvested as of the ex-dividend date, from December 3, 2020 to December 31, 2020. The ending average price of $73.23 is based upon the 20-trading-day average closing stock prices of our common stock, assuming all dividends are reinvested as of the ex-dividend date, from December 1, 2023 to December 29, 2023 (since December 30, 2023 and December 31, 2023 are non-trading days). We paid out $9.04 per share of dividends during the 2021 - 2023 performance period.
Our TSR of -22.85% for the 2021 through 2023 performance period ranked #47 out of the 57 companies in the S&P SmallCap 600 Materials and S&P MidCap 400 Materials Indices, or the 18th percentile, resulting in no payout under the relative TSR performance metric.
The chart below illustrates the performance share award payouts based on our relative TSR performance for the 2019-2021, 2020-2022 and 2021-2023 long-term incentive programs:
62
|
The performance shares earned were determined by our TSR over the applicable three-year performance period compared to the TSR of the other companies comprising the S&P SmallCap 600 Materials and S&P MidCap 400 Materials Indices. The beginning and ending stock prices used to determine our TSR are calculated using the 20-trading-day average preceding the beginning and end of the performance period. The performance share multiplier is determined by using straight line interpolation based on our TSR percentile ranking within our comparison group based on the table below: |
|
Percentile Ranking |
|
Multiplier |
< 25th |
|
0.0x |
|
25th |
|
0.5x |
|
50th |
|
1.0x |
|
75th |
|
1.5x |
|
≥ 90th |
|
2.0x |
For 20% of the performance shares granted under the 2021-2023 LTI Plan, the payout was determined based on our controllable cost performance. Controllable costs are generally defined as our variable conversion costs which adjust with our product volume and mix plus corporate and plant overhead. Controllable costs also (1) include benefits because we believe that management is required to take actions to influence benefit costs over the performance period and (2) exclude, among other things, major maintenance, research and development and enterprise resource planning costs to ensure that we continue to invest in the future of our company. The performance required for the target payout under the controllable cost performance metric is an annualized controllable cost increase at 0% after offsetting underlying inflation, and there is no payout under the controllable cost performance metric if the annualized controllable cost increase is equal to or greater than 2% after offsetting underlying inflation. The controllable cost performance metric under our 2021-2023 LTI Plan did not include Warrick's costs, as we had not closed the acquisition of Warrick at the time our 2021-2023 LTI Plan was implemented.
For the remaining 20% of the performance shares granted under the 2021 - 2023 LTI Plan, the payout was determined based on our Adjusted EBITDA margin performance, calculated by our Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of conversion revenue over the three-year performance period. Our conversion revenue is calculated as our net sales less the hedged cost of alloyed metals. Our average Adjusted EBITDA margin for 2021 through 2023 was approximately 14%, which did not meet the 19% threshold required for a payout.
Retirement benefits
We do not maintain a defined benefit pension plan or retiree medical program that covers members of senior management. Retirement benefits to our senior management, including our named executive officers, are currently provided through a defined contribution retirement program consisting of the following two principal plans:
63
The defined contribution retirement program has the following three primary components, which are discussed more fully below:
Under the terms of our Restoration Plan, cash balances are maintained in a "rabbi trust" where they remain subject to the claims of our creditors and are otherwise invested in funds designated by each individual from a menu of possible investments. In addition, the cash balances maintained in the rabbi trust are forfeited if the individual is terminated for cause.
The compensation committee believes the Savings Plan and the Restoration Plan support the objectives of our comprehensive compensation structure, including the ability to attract and retain senior and experienced mid- to late-career executives for critical positions within our organization. Each of these plans is discussed more fully below.
Perquisites
Our use of perquisites as an element of compensation is very limited and largely based on business-related entertainment needs. We do not view perquisites as a significant element of our comprehensive compensation structure but do believe that they can be used in conjunction with base salary to attract, motivate and retain individuals in a competitive environment. During 2023, all of our named executive officers received a vehicle allowance.
Our salaried employees, including the named executive officers, are also eligible to receive benefits in connection with qualified relocations requested by the Company, including the reimbursement of certain moving expenses, temporary living expenses, and normal closing costs up to the lesser of two points or 2% of the loan value, and, if applicable, a payment intended to offset costs incurred to close the home sale in the origin location equal to 7% of the contract price for relocations within the United States.
Consideration of the 2023 Advisory Vote to Approve Named Executive Officer Compensation
We provide our stockholders with the opportunity to cast an annual vote to approve our named executive officer compensation. At our 2023 annual meeting of stockholders, approximately 98% of shares of our common stock voted on the proposal were voted to approve the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in the proxy statement relating to such meeting. The compensation committee has considered the outcome of the vote on executive compensation at our 2023 annual meeting of stockholders, as well as the feedback received through our stockholder engagement, and believes they affirm our stockholders' support of our overall approach to executive compensation. Therefore, we did not make any changes to our executive compensation program as a direct result of the vote. The compensation committee expects to continue to consider the outcome of the annual vote to approve named executive officer compensation when making future compensation decisions for the named executive officers.
Stock Ownership Guidelines
In order to further align the interests of senior management, including our named executive officers, with those of our stockholders, we have stock ownership guidelines, which are set forth in our corporate governance guidelines. Under those guidelines, members of our senior management are expected to hold common stock having a value equal to a multiple of their base salary as determined by their position. The guidelines provide for a target multiple of six times base salary for our President and CEO and three times base salary for the other named executive officers. Each member of senior management covered by our stock ownership guidelines is expected to retain at least 75% of the net shares resulting from equity compensation awards until the applicable ownership level required by the stock ownership guidelines is achieved. The ownership guidelines are expected to be met within five years. Except for Mr. Narayan, who was promoted to Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer this past year, each of our named executive officers has satisfied the applicable stock ownership requirements under the stock ownership guidelines.
For purposes of measuring compliance with our stock ownership guidelines (1) restricted stock and restricted stock units are valued at the closing price of the Company's common stock on the grant date, (2) performance shares are valued using the target number of performance shares and the closing price of our common stock on the grant date, and (3) all other
64
shares of common stock purchased or acquired by members of our senior management are valued at the purchase price of the shares.
Securities Trading Policy
Our securities trading policy prohibits our directors, employees, including our named executive officers, and independent contractors, and members of their immediate families, from purchasing financial instruments, including options and other derivative arrangements, to hedge or offset, or otherwise engaging in transactions designed to hedge or offset, decreases in the market value of our equity securities, whether granted as part of compensation to, or otherwise held directly or indirectly by, such director, employee, or independent contractor. Prohibited transactions include short sales, options, puts, calls and derivative instruments such as swaps, forwards, collars and futures. Our securities trading policy also prohibits our directors, employees, including our named executive officers, and independent contractors from buying our securities on margin (other than purchases where the related margin borrowings are effected solely for the purpose of paying the option exercise price upon the exercise of an option to purchase shares from the Company, which are typically referred to as “cashless exercises”), holding our securities in a margin account, pledging our securities as collateral for a loan or any other obligations or entering into share lending programs.
Clawback Policy
As required by Dodd-Frank, in October 2022, the SEC adopted final rules directing the national securities exchanges and national securities associations that list securities, including The Nasdaq Stock Market, to establish clawback listing standards. These clawback listing standards require the Company to adopt a written compensation recovery (clawback) policy providing for the recovery, in the event of a triggering accounting restatement, of incentive-based compensation received by current or former executive officers that is based on erroneously reported financial information. In October 2023, the Nasdaq clawback listing standards became effective. Accordingly, in October 2023, we amended our then existing clawback policy to meet the requirements of clawback listing standards of the Nasdaq Stock Market.
The revised clawback policy provides for the reasonably prompt recovery (or clawback) of certain excess incentive-based compensation received during an applicable three-year recovery period by current or former executive officers in the event we are required to prepare an accounting restatement due to material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws. Excess incentive-based compensation for these purposes generally means the amount of incentive-based compensation received (on or after October 2, 2023) by such executive officer that exceeds the amount of incentive-based compensation that would have been received by such executive officer had it been determined based on the restated amounts, without regard to any taxes paid. Incentive-based compensation potentially subject to recovery under the clawback policy is generally limited to any compensation granted, earned or vested based wholly or in part on the attainment of one or more financial reporting measures.
The clawback policy does not condition such clawback on the fault of the executive officer, but we are not required to recoup amounts in limited circumstances set forth in the clawback policy where the compensation committee has made a determination that recovery would be impracticable. Operation of the clawback policy is subject to a brief phase-in process during the first few years after its effectiveness. We may not indemnify any such executive officer against the loss of such recovered compensation in the event of a mandatory accounting restatement.
In addition to our clawback policy, our short-term incentive plan and equity award agreements provide for the recovery of payments or awards received during the applicable one-year recovery period by plan participants in the event that the plan participant engaged in a triggering detrimental activity.
Employment Contracts, Termination of Employment Arrangements and Change-in-Control Arrangements
As discussed more fully below, on July 31, 2020, we entered into an amended and restated severance agreement with Mr. Harvey in connection with his appointment as CEO. The severance agreement, among other things, (i) eliminated our obligation to make excise tax gross up payments to Mr. Harvey in the event of his termination in connection with a change in control of our company, (ii) added severance benefits and (iii) increased Mr. Harvey’s termination benefits in connection with a change in control. In lieu of the gross up payment, the Severance Agreement provides that if any payments to Mr. Harvey upon his termination would be subject to a federal excise tax, then such payments would be reduced to the minimum extent necessary so that no portion of such payments, as so reduced, is subject to such tax, except that such a reduction will be made only if and to the extent such reduction would result in an increase in the aggregate payment on an after-tax basis. In the event Mr. Harvey’s employment is terminated without cause or terminated by Mr. Harvey for good reason, Mr. Harvey will be entitled to receive a lump-sum payment of two times the sum of his base salary and short-term incentive target, plus the continuation of benefits for two years and a prorated short-term incentive payment for the program then in effect. In the event Mr. Harvey’s employment is terminated without cause or terminated by Mr. Harvey for good reason within the period
65
beginning ninety (90) days prior to a change in control and ending on the second anniversary of such change in control, Mr. Harvey will be entitled to receive a lump sum payment of two and half times the sum of his base salary and short-term incentive target, plus the continuation of benefits for three years and a prorated short-term incentive payment for the program then in effect.
The compensation committee, working with Meridian, determined that the negotiated terms of the amended agreement were consistent with market practice and in the best interests of our company and stockholders.
As discussed more fully below, certain members of senior management, including four of our named executive officers, continue to have benefits related to terminations of employment in connection with a change in control, by us without cause and by the named executive officer with good reason. These protections limit our ability to materially reduce certain aspects of compensation, including base salaries and target incentive compensation, without triggering the ability of the affected named executive officer to receive termination benefits in connection with a change in control.
2023 Summary Compensation Table
The table below sets forth information regarding compensation for our named executive officers: (1) Keith A. Harvey, our President and CEO (our principal executive officer); (2) Neal E. West, our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (our principal financial officer); and (3) each of John M. Donnan, Jason D. Walsh and Raymond D. Parkinson, our three other most highly compensated executive officers (based on total compensation for 2023).
Name and Principal |
|
Year |
|
Salary |
|
|
Stock Awards (1) |
|
Non-Equity |
|
Change in |
|
All Other |
|
Total |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Keith A. Harvey, |
|
2023 |
|
$ |
983,750 |
|
|
|
$ |
4,012,956 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
985,550 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
225,604 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
6,207,860 |
|
|
President and Chief |
|
2022 |
|
$ |
926,250 |
|
|
|
$ |
3,414,128 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
4,854 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
778,493 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
5,123,725 |
|
|
Executive Officer |
|
2021 |
|
$ |
893,751 |
|
|
|
$ |
3,697,874 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
588,600 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
5,248 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
320,039 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
5,505,512 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
John M. Donnan, |
|
2023 |
|
$ |
517,500 |
|
|
|
$ |
976,050 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
342,800 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
216,033 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
2,052,383 |
|
|
Executive Vice President, |
|
2022 |
|
$ |
490,000 |
|
|
|
$ |
865,932 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
729,822 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
2,085,754 |
|
|
Chief Administrative |
|
2021 |
|
$ |
469,250 |
|
|
|
$ |
2,088,596 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
222,360 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
12,856 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
140,924 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
2,933,986 |
|
|
Officer and General Counsel |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
Neal E. West, |
|
2023 |
|
$ |
527,500 |
|
|
|
$ |
1,030,285 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
342,800 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
110,124 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
2,010,709 |
|
|
Executive Vice President |
|
2022 |
|
$ |
485,000 |
|
|
|
$ |
865,932 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
126,885 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,477,817 |
|
|
and Chief Financial Officer |
|
2021 |
|
$ |
465,000 |
|
|
|
$ |
2,065,273 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
219,090 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
290,926 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
3,040,289 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
Jason D. Walsh, |
|
2023 |
|
$ |
491,250 |
|
|
|
$ |
839,065 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
299,950 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
148,191 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,778,456 |
|
|
Executive Vice President - |
|
2022 |
|
$ |
457,575 |
|
|
|
$ |
503,299 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
353,563 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,314,437 |
|
|
Manufacturing |
|
2021 |
|
$ |
434,600 |
|
|
|
$ |
466,723 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
151,597 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
129,846 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,182,766 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
Raymond D. Parkinson |
|
2023 |
|
$ |
430,000 |
|
|
|
$ |
1,198,250 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
171,400 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
95,489 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,895,139 |
|
|
Senior Vice President - |
|
2022 |
|
$ |
396,325 |
|
|
|
$ |
407,425 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
83,454 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
887,204 |
|
|
Advanced Engineering and Innovation |
|
2021 |
|
$ |
382,475 |
|
|
|
$ |
489,500 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
102,613 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
79,010 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,053,598 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
66
|
|
|
|
Aggregate Grant Date Fair Value |
||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
Name |
|
Year |
|
At Probable |
|
At Maximum |
||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Keith A. Harvey |
|
2023 |
|
|
$ |
2,699,506 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
5,053,828 |
|
|
John M. Donnan |
|
2023 |
|
|
$ |
656,599 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,229,229 |
|
|
Neal E. West |
|
2023 |
|
|
$ |
693,049 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,297,475 |
|
|
Jason D. Walsh |
|
2023 |
|
|
$ |
437,698 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
819,416 |
|
|
Raymond D. Parkinson |
|
2023 |
|
|
$ |
299,130 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
560,005 |
|
|
* For information regarding the assumptions made in the valuation of restricted stock units and performance share awards with respect to our 2023 fiscal year, see Note 7 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.
As reflected in the table above, the base salary received by each of our named executive officers, as a percentage of their respective total compensation was as follows:
67
All Other Compensation
The table below sets forth information regarding each component of compensation included in the "All Other Compensation" column of the 2023 Summary Compensation Table above.
Name |
|
Year |
|
Savings Plan |
|
Restoration |
|
Dividend |
|
Club |
|
Vehicle |
|
Relocation Costs |
|
|
Total |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Keith A. Harvey |
|
2023 |
|
|
$ |
36,450 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
78,450 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
98,448 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
12,256 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
$ |
225,604 |
|
|
|
|
2022 |
|
|
$ |
38,938 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
145,182 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
138,277 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
12,256 |
|
|
|
$ |
443,840 |
|
|
|
$ |
778,493 |
|
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
$ |
31,763 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
113,115 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
161,605 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,300 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
12,256 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
$ |
320,039 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
John M. Donnan |
|
2023 |
|
|
$ |
32,820 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
18,570 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
64,087 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
12,684 |
|
|
|
$ |
87,872 |
|
|
|
$ |
216,033 |
|
|
|
|
2022 |
|
|
$ |
30,767 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
40,736 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
71,711 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
12,684 |
|
|
|
$ |
573,924 |
|
|
|
$ |
729,822 |
|
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
$ |
28,595 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
36,193 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
61,025 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
2,428 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
12,684 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
$ |
140,924 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Neal E. West |
|
2023 |
|
|
$ |
19,903 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
11,850 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
64,317 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
14,054 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
$ |
110,124 |
|
|
|
|
2022 |
|
|
$ |
18,306 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
23,945 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
70,580 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
14,054 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
$ |
126,885 |
|
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
$ |
17,091 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
21,292 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
50,578 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
14,054 |
|
|
|
$ |
187,911 |
|
|
|
$ |
290,926 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Jason D. Walsh |
|
2023 |
|
|
$ |
19,816 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
9,675 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
95,679 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
13,021 |
|
|
|
$ |
10,000 |
|
|
|
$ |
148,191 |
|
|
|
|
2022 |
|
|
$ |
18,516 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
18,250 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
95,587 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
13,021 |
|
|
|
$ |
208,189 |
|
|
|
$ |
353,563 |
|
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
$ |
17,041 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
14,621 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
85,163 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
13,021 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
$ |
129,846 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Raymond D. Parkinson |
|
2023 |
|
|
$ |
32,942 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
10,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
38,699 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
13,848 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
$ |
95,489 |
|
|
|
|
2022 |
|
|
$ |
30,509 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
19,394 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
19,703 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
13,848 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
$ |
83,454 |
|
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
$ |
28,981 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
17,030 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
19,151 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
19,151 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
$ |
79,010 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grants of Plan-Based Awards in 2023
The table below sets forth information regarding grants of plan-based awards made to our named executive officers during 2023.
|
|
|
|
|
Estimated Possible Payouts Under Non- |
|
Estimated Future Payouts Under |
|
All Other |
|
Grant Date |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name |
|
Grant |
|
|
Threshold |
|
Target |
|
Maximum |
|
Threshold |
|
Target |
|
Maximum |
|
Units |
|
Awards (3) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Keith A. Harvey |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
$ |
345,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,150,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
2,530,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
3/5/2023 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
17,429 |
|
(4) |
|
|
$ |
1,313,449 |
|
|
|
|
|
3/5/2023 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
13,072 |
|
|
|
|
|
26,144 |
|
|
|
|
|
52,288 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
2,699,506 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
John M. Donnan |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
$ |
120,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
400,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
880,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
3/5/2023 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
4,239 |
|
(4) |
|
|
$ |
319,451 |
|
|
|
|
|
3/5/2023 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
3,179 |
|
|
|
|
|
6,359 |
|
|
|
|
|
12,718 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
656,599 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Neal E. West |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
$ |
120,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
400,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
880,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
3/5/2023 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
4,475 |
|
(4) |
|
|
$ |
337,236 |
|
|
|
|
|
3/5/2023 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
3,356 |
|
|
|
|
|
6,712 |
|
|
|
|
|
13,424 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
693,049 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Jason D. Walsh |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
$ |
105,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
350,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
770,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
3/5/2023 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
2,826 |
|
(4) |
|
|
$ |
212,967 |
|
|
|
|
|
3/5/2023 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
2,500 |
|
(5) |
|
|
$ |
188,400 |
|
|
|
|
|
3/5/2023 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
2,119 |
|
|
|
|
|
4,239 |
|
|
|
|
|
8,478 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
437,698 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Raymond D. Parkinson |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
$ |
60,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
200,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
440,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
3/5/2023 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
1,931 |
|
(4) |
|
|
$ |
145,520 |
|
|
|
|
|
3/5/2023 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
(5) |
|
|
$ |
753,600 |
|
|
|
|
|
3/5/2023 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
1,448 |
|
|
|
|
|
2,897 |
|
|
|
|
|
5,794 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
299,130 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
68
Change in Control Agreements and Amended and Restated Severance Agreements
In 2002, we entered into Change in Control Agreements with certain key executives, including Messrs. Harvey and Donnan, in order to provide them with appropriate protection in the event of a termination of employment in connection with a change in control or, except as otherwise provided, a significant restructuring. As noted below, the Change in Control Agreements with Messrs. Harvey and Donnan were subsequently superseded by the amended and restated severance agreements with Messrs. Harvey and Donnan to, among other things, eliminate our obligation to make excise tax gross up payments to them.
In 2008, we entered into a Change in Control Agreement with Mr. West. In the event of a qualifying change in control termination of employment, Mr. West is entitled to receive (i) a lump sum payment equaling his base pay, (ii) a prorated portion of his short-term incentive target for the year of termination, and (iii) the continuation of welfare benefits and perquisites for one year.
On July 31, 2020, Mr. Harvey became our CEO and entered into an amended and restated severance agreement, which, among other things, (i) eliminated our obligation to make excise tax gross up payments to Mr. Harvey in the event of his termination in connection with a change in control of our company, (ii) added severance benefits and (iii) increased Mr. Harvey’s termination benefits in connection with a change in control. In lieu of the gross up payment, the severance agreement with Mr. Harvey provides that if any payments to Mr. Harvey upon his termination would be subject to a federal excise tax, then such payments would be reduced to the minimum extent necessary so that no portion of such payments, as so reduced, is subject to such tax, except that such a reduction will be made only if and to the extent such reduction would result in an increase in the aggregate payment on an after-tax basis. In the event Mr. Harvey’s employment is terminated without cause or terminated by Mr. Harvey for good reason, Mr. Harvey will be entitled to receive a lump-sum payment of two times the sum of his base salary and short-term incentive target, plus the continuation of benefits for two years and a prorated short-term incentive payment for the program then in effect. In the event Mr. Harvey’s employment is terminated without cause or terminated by Mr. Harvey for good reason within the period beginning ninety (90) days prior to a change in control and ending on the second anniversary of such change in control, Mr. Harvey will be entitled to receive a lump sum payment of two and half times the sum of his base salary and short-term incentive target, plus the continuation of welfare benefits and perquisites for three years and a prorated short-term incentive payment for the program then in effect.
On March 5, 2021, the Company and Mr. Donnan entered into an amended and restated severance agreement that provides for the elimination of our obligation to make excise tax gross up payments to Mr. Donnan in the event of his termination in connection with a change in control of the Company. Similar to the amended and restated severance agreement with Mr. Harvey, in lieu of the gross up payment, the amended and restated severance agreement with Mr. Donnan provides that if any payments to Mr. Donnan upon his termination would be subject to a federal excise tax, then such payments would be reduced to the minimum extent necessary so that no portion of such payments, as so reduced, is subject to such tax, except that such a reduction will be made only if and to the extent such reduction would result in an increase in the aggregate payment on an after-tax basis. In the event of a qualifying change in control termination of employment, Mr.
69
Donnan is entitled to receive (i) a lump sum payment equaling two times the sum of his base pay and most recent short-term incentive target, (ii) a prorated portion of his short-term incentive target for the year of termination, and (iii) the continuation of welfare benefits and perquisites for two years.
In consideration for the severance payment and continuation of benefits, each of Messrs. Harvey, Donnan and West will be subject to non-competition, non-solicitation and confidentiality restrictions following his termination of employment with us.
Salaried Severance Plan
Messrs. Donnan, West, Walsh and Parkinson are subject to our severance plan for salaried employees, which we refer to as our Salaried Severance Plan. Our Salaried Severance Plan provides for payment of a termination allowance and continuation of welfare benefits upon an involuntary separation of employment that is intended to be permanent. The termination allowance and continuation of welfare benefits are not available under our Salaried Severance Plan if:
The termination allowance payable to covered employees under our Salaried Severance Plan consists of a lump-sum cash payment equal to the employee's weekly base salary multiplied by a number of weeks (not to exceed 26), which we refer to as the continuation period, determined based on the employee's number of years of full employment. Under our Salaried Severance Plan, welfare benefits are continued following the termination of employment for the shorter of the continuation period and the period commencing on the termination of employment and ending on the date that the employee is no longer eligible for coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, or COBRA. As of December 29, 2023, the continuation periods for Messrs. Donnan, West, Walsh and Parkinson were 26, 12, 16, and 26 weeks, respectively.
For quantitative disclosure regarding estimated payments and other benefits that would have been received by each of Messrs. Harvey, Donnan, West, Walsh and Parkinson or his estate if his employment had terminated on December 29, 2023, the last business day of 2023, under various circumstances, see "— Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control" below.
2021 Plan
The terms of the 2021 Plan are substantially as described above in the section titled “Proposal 4 - Approval of the Amendment and Restatement of the Kaiser Aluminum Corporation 2021 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan” (with the exception of the differences described in the “Summary of Material Changes from the 2021 Plan” subsection).
Savings Plan
We sponsor a tax-qualified profit-sharing and 401(k) plan, our Savings Plan, in which eligible salaried employees may participate. Pursuant to the Savings Plan, employees may elect to reduce their current annual compensation up to the lesser of 75% or the statutorily prescribed limit of $23,000 in calendar year 2024 (plus up to an additional $7,500 in the form of "catch-up" contributions for participants near retirement age) and have the amount of any reduction contributed to the Savings Plan. Our Savings Plan is intended to qualify under Sections 401(a) and 401(k) of the Code, so that contributions by us or our employees to the Savings Plan and income earned on contributions are not taxable to employees until withdrawn from the Savings Plan and so that contributions will be deductible by us when made.
We match 100% of the amount an employee contributes to the Savings Plan, subject to a 4% maximum based on the employee's compensation as defined in the Savings Plan. Employees are immediately vested 100% in our matching contributions to our Savings Plan.
We also make annual fixed-rate contributions on behalf of our employees in the following amounts:
70
As discussed more fully below, the fixed-rate contributions were implemented following the termination of our qualified, defined benefit retirement plan and resulting loss of benefit accruals under that plan. An employee is required to be employed on the last day of the year in order to receive the fixed-rate contribution. Employees are vested 100% in our fixed-rate contributions to the Savings Plan after three years of service.
The total amount of elective, matching and fixed-rate contributions in any year cannot exceed the lesser of 100% of the total of an employee's base salary and short-term incentive award or $66,000 in 2023, respectively (adjusted annually). We may amend or terminate these matching and fixed-rate contributions at any time by an appropriate amendment to our Savings Plan. Upon termination of employment, employees are eligible to receive a distribution of their vested plan balances under our Savings Plan. The independent trustee of the Savings Plan invests the assets of the Savings Plan as directed by participants.
Restoration Plan
We sponsor a nonqualified, deferred compensation plan, our Restoration Plan, in which members of our senior management and highly compensated employees may participate. Eligibility to participate in our Restoration Plan is determined by the compensation committee. The purpose of our Restoration Plan is to restore the benefit of matching and fixed-rate contributions that we would have otherwise paid to participants under our Savings Plan but for the limitations on benefit accruals and payments imposed by the Code. We maintain an account on behalf of each participant in the Restoration Plan, and contributions to a participant's Restoration Plan account to restore benefits under the Savings Plan are made generally in the manner described below:
Participants are immediately vested 100% in our matching contributions to the Restoration Plan and are vested 100% in our fixed-rate contributions to our Restoration Plan after three years of service or upon retirement, death, disability or a change of control. Participants do not make contributions to their respective Restoration Plan accounts. A participant is entitled to distributions six months following his or her termination of service, except that any participant who is terminated for cause will forfeit the entire amount of matching and fixed-rate contributions made by us to that participant's account under the Restoration Plan.
We may amend or terminate these matching and fixed-rate contributions at any time by an appropriate amendment to our Restoration Plan. The value of each participant's account under our Restoration Plan changes based upon the performance of the funds designated by the participant from a menu of various money market and investment funds.
71
Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2023
The table below sets forth the information regarding equity awards held by our named executive officers as of December 31, 2023 and illustrates the impact of the intended design of our compensation program, which generally ensures three years of restricted stock units and performance share awards are outstanding at any time.
|
|
Stock Awards |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Name |
|
Number of Shares or |
|
Market Value of |
|
Equity Incentive |
|
Equity Incentive |
||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
Keith A. Harvey |
|
|
|
7,407 |
|
(2) |
|
|
$ |
527,304 |
|
|
|
|
|
17,285 |
|
(5) |
|
|
$ |
1,230,519 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,964 |
|
(3) |
|
|
$ |
709,337 |
|
|
|
|
|
23,250 |
|
(6) |
|
|
$ |
1,655,168 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
17,429 |
|
(4) |
|
|
$ |
1,240,771 |
|
|
|
|
|
26,144 |
|
(7) |
|
|
$ |
1,861,191 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
John M. Donnan |
|
|
|
3,320 |
|
(2) |
|
|
$ |
236,351 |
|
|
|
|
|
4,058 |
|
(5) |
|
|
$ |
288,889 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
(8) |
|
|
$ |
711,900 |
|
|
|
|
|
5,180 |
|
(6) |
|
|
$ |
368,764 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,453 |
|
(3) |
|
|
$ |
245,819 |
|
|
|
|
|
6,359 |
|
(7) |
|
|
$ |
452,697 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,239 |
|
(4) |
|
|
$ |
301,774 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Neal E. West |
|
|
|
3,245 |
|
(2) |
|
|
$ |
231,012 |
|
|
|
|
|
3,967 |
|
(5) |
|
|
$ |
282,411 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
(8) |
|
|
$ |
711,900 |
|
|
|
|
|
5,180 |
|
(6) |
|
|
$ |
368,764 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,453 |
|
(3) |
|
|
$ |
245,819 |
|
|
|
|
|
6,712 |
|
(7) |
|
|
$ |
477,827 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,475 |
|
(4) |
|
|
$ |
318,575 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Jason D. Walsh |
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
(9) |
|
|
$ |
1,423,800 |
|
|
|
|
|
1,830 |
|
(5) |
|
|
$ |
130,278 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,498 |
|
(2) |
|
|
$ |
106,643 |
|
|
|
|
|
2,346 |
|
(6) |
|
|
$ |
167,012 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,564 |
|
(3) |
|
|
$ |
111,341 |
|
|
|
|
|
4,239 |
|
(7) |
|
|
$ |
301,774 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,224 |
|
(10) |
|
|
$ |
87,137 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
2,826 |
|
(4) |
|
|
$ |
201,183 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
2,500 |
|
(11) |
|
|
$ |
177,975 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Raymond D. Parkinson |
|
|
|
1,570 |
|
(2) |
|
|
$ |
111,768 |
|
|
|
|
|
1,920 |
|
(5) |
|
|
$ |
136,685 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,625 |
|
(3) |
|
|
$ |
115,684 |
|
|
|
|
|
2,437 |
|
(6) |
|
|
$ |
173,490 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,931 |
|
(4) |
|
|
$ |
137,468 |
|
|
|
|
|
2,897 |
|
(7) |
|
|
$ |
206,237 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
(11) |
|
|
$ |
711,900 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
72
73
Option Exercises and Stock Vested in 2023
The table below sets forth information regarding the vesting during 2023 of performance shares and restricted stock units granted to our named executive officers.
|
|
|
Stock Awards |
|
|
|||||||
Name |
|
Number of |
|
Value Realized |
||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Keith A. Harvey |
|
|
|
6,083 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
512,979 |
|
|
John M. Donnan |
|
|
|
3,421 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
288,493 |
|
|
Neal E. West |
|
|
|
3,311 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
279,217 |
|
|
Jason D. Walsh |
|
|
|
6,136 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
408,799 |
|
|
Raymond D. Parkinson |
|
|
|
1,685 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
142,096 |
|
|
Pension Benefits as of December 31, 2023
The table below sets forth information regarding the present value as of December 31, 2023 of the accumulated benefits of our named executive officers in our Old Pension Plan. As discussed further below, our Old Pension Plan was terminated on December 17, 2003, at which time the number of years of credited service for participants was frozen.
Name |
|
Plan Name |
|
Number of |
|
Present Value of |
||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Keith A. Harvey |
|
Kaiser Aluminum Salaried Employees Retirement Plan |
|
|
|
17.83 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
537,399 |
|
|
John M. Donnan |
|
Kaiser Aluminum Salaried Employees Retirement Plan |
|
|
|
10.25 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
393,631 |
|
|
Neal E. West |
|
Kaiser Aluminum Salaried Employees Retirement Plan |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
Jason D. Walsh |
|
Kaiser Aluminum Salaried Employees Retirement Plan |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
Raymond D. Parkinson |
|
Kaiser Aluminum Salaried Employees Retirement Plan |
|
|
|
13.75 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
402,058 |
|
|
The Old Pension Plan previously maintained by us was a qualified, defined-benefit retirement plan for our salaried employees who met certain eligibility requirements. Effective December 17, 2003, the PBGC terminated and effectively assumed responsibility for making benefit payments in respect of the Old Pension Plan. As a result of the termination, all benefit accruals under the Old Pension Plan were terminated and benefits available to certain executive officers were significantly reduced due to the limitation on benefits payable by the PBGC. Benefits payable to participants will be reduced to a maximum of $34,742 annually for retirement at age 62, a lower amount for retirement prior to age 62, and a higher amount for retirements after age 62, up to $43,977 annually for retirement at age 65, and participants will not accrue additional benefits. In addition, the PBGC will not make lump-sum payments to participants.
74
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation for 2023
The table below sets forth, for each of our named executive officers, information regarding his participation in our Restoration Plan during 2023. For additional information about our Restoration Plan, see "- Restoration Plan."
Name |
|
Registrant |
|
Aggregate |
|
Aggregate |
||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
Keith A. Harvey |
|
|
$ |
78,450 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
258,535 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
2,048,829 |
|
|
John M. Donnan |
|
|
$ |
18,570 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
249,227 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,440,453 |
|
|
Neal E. West |
|
|
$ |
11,850 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
31,287 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
243,675 |
|
|
Jason D. Walsh |
|
|
$ |
9,675 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
24,197 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
158,116 |
|
|
Raymond D. Parkinson |
|
|
$ |
10,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
83,905 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
555,722 |
|
|
Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control
This section describes, and sets forth quantitative disclosure with respect to, payments and benefits to which our named executive officers would have been entitled if their employment had terminated on December 29, 2023 under various circumstances.
Voluntary Termination other than Qualified Retirement
If the employment of a named executive officer (other than Mr. Parkinson, who turned 65 during 2023 and qualified for retirement prior to December 29, 2023) had been voluntarily terminated by him on December 29, 2023, he would have forfeited all of his outstanding incentive awards, including his award under our 2023 STI Plan and all outstanding shares of restricted stock, restricted stock units and performance shares previously granted to him. In addition, the named executive officer would not have been eligible for severance benefits.
Termination for Cause
If a named executive officer’s employment had been terminated for cause on December 29, 2023, he would have forfeited all of his outstanding incentive awards, including his award under our 2023 STI Plan and all outstanding restricted stock units and performance shares previously granted to him. In addition, the named executive officer would not have been eligible for severance benefits.
Termination by us without Cause or by Named Executive Officer with Good Reason - No Change in Control
Under Mr. Harvey’s amended and restated severance agreement, if Mr. Harvey’s employment had been terminated by us without cause or voluntarily terminated by him for good reason on December 29, 2023, Mr. Harvey would have been entitled to receive (1) payment of his award under our 2023 STI Plan, determined based on actual performance, (2) a lump-sum payment in an amount equal to two times the sum of his 2023 base salary and 2023 STI Plan incentive target, and (3) continuation of his welfare benefits for two years commencing on December 29, 2023.
Under the 2023 STI Plan, the awards were conditioned on employment on the date of payment unless employment had been terminated as a result of death, disability or retirement at or after age 65. If employment of any of our named executive
75
officers (other than Mr. Harvey) had terminated by us without cause or by the named executive officer with good reason on December 29, 2023, he would not have been entitled to receive any payment under the 2023 STI Plan.
Under our equity award agreements, if the employment of any of our named executive officers had been terminated by us without cause or voluntarily terminated by him for good reason on December 29, 2023, then (1) all restricted stock units granted to him effective March 5, 2021, March 5, 2022 and March 5, 2023, and, in the case of Mr. Walsh, August 12, 2020 and April 15, 2022, would have remained outstanding and would vest on their original vesting dates (or earlier in the event of disability or death or a change in control) and (2) all performance shares granted to him effective March 5, 2021, March 5, 2022 and March 5, 2023 would have remained outstanding, with the number of shares of common stock, if any, to be received by such named executive officer in respect to such performance shares to be determined based on the performance level achieved during the applicable performance period.
Under our Salaried Severance Plan, if the employment of Messrs. Donnan, West, Walsh, or Parkinson had been terminated by us without cause on December 29, 2023, the named executive office would have been entitled to (1) a lump-sum payment equal to his weekly base salary multiplied by his continuation period, determined based on his number of years of full employment as of December 29, 2023, and (2) continuation of his welfare benefits following the termination of employment for a period not to exceed the shorter of his continuation period and the period commencing on the termination of employment and ending on the date he is no longer eligible for coverage under COBRA.
Termination by us without Cause or by Named Executive Officer with Good Reason - Change in Control
Under the amended and restated severance agreements with Messrs. Harvey and Donnan, if the employment of Messrs. Harvey or Donnan had been terminated by us without cause or voluntarily terminated by him for good reason within two years following a change in control on December 29, 2023, he would have been entitled to receive (1) payment of his award under our 2023 STI Plan, determined based on actual performance, (2) a lump-sum payment in an amount equal to 2.5 times (two times for Mr. Donnan) the sum of his 2023 base salary and 2023 STI Plan incentive target, and (3) continuation of his welfare benefits for three years (two years for Mr. Donnan) commencing on December 31, 2023. If any payments to Messrs. Harvey or Donnan upon his termination would be subject to a federal excise tax, then such payments would be reduced to the minimum extent necessary so that no portion of such payments, as so reduced, is subject to such tax, except that such a reduction will be made only if and to the extent such reduction would result in an increase in the aggregate payment on an after-tax basis.
Under the Change in Control Agreement with Mr. West, if Mr. West’s employment had been terminated by us without cause or by him for good reason in connection with a change in control on December 29, 2023, he would have been entitled to receive (1) a lump-sum payment equal to his 2023 base salary, (2) a prorated portion of his 2023 short-term incentive target, (3) continuation of his welfare benefits for one year commencing on December 29, 2023, and (4) continuation of his perquisites for one year commencing on December 29, 2023.
Under our equity award agreements, if the employment of any of our named executive officers had been terminated by us without cause or voluntarily terminated by him for good reason in connection with a change in control on December 29, 2023, then (1) all restricted stock units granted to him effective March 5, 2021, March 5, 2022 and March 5, 2023 and, in the case of Mr. Walsh, August 12, 2020 and April 15, 2022, April 3, 2019, August 12, 2020 and April 15, 2022, would have immediately vested, and (2) all performance shares granted to him effective March 5, 2021, March 5, 2022 and March 5, 2023 would have immediately vested, with the number of shares of common stock, if any, to be received by such named executive officer in respect to such performance shares to be determined based on the performance level achieved during the applicable performance period through the change in control on December29, 2023.
Under our Salaried Severance Plan, if the employment of Messrs. Walsh, or Parkinson had been terminated by us without cause or voluntarily terminated by him for good reason in connection with a change in control on December 29, 2023, the named executive office would have been entitled to (1) a lump-sum payment equal to his weekly base salary multiplied by his continuation period, determined based on his number of years of full employment as of December 29, 2023, and (2) continuation of his welfare benefits following the termination of employment for a period not to exceed the shorter of his continuation period and the period commencing on the termination of employment and ending on the date he is no longer eligible for coverage under COBRA.
76
Qualified Retirement
Mr. Parkinson turned age 65 during 2023. Under the 2023 STI Plan, if the employment of Mr. Parkinson had been terminated as a result of retirement on December 29, 2023, the last business day of 2023, he would have been entitled to payment of his award under the 2023 STI Plan, determined based on actual performance.
Under our equity award agreements, if Mr. Parkinson had been terminated as a result of retirement on December 31, 2023, the last business day of 2023, then (1) all restricted stock units granted to him effective March 5, 2021 would have remained outstanding and vest on March 5, 2024, (2) except for the special award of 10,000 restricted stock units granted to Mr. Parkinson effective March 5, 2023, a prorated portion of the restricted stock units granted to him effective March 5, 2022 and March 5, 2023, determined based on the actual days of his employment during the applicable restriction period, would have remained outstanding and would vest on their original vesting dates, (3) the special award of 10,000 restricted stock units granted to Mr. Parkinson on March 5, 2023 would have been forfeited, and (4) the performance shares granted to him effective March 5, 2021, March 5, 2022 and March 5, 2023 would have remained outstanding, with the number of shares of common stock, if any, to be received by him in respect of such performance shares to be determined based on the performance level achieved during the applicable three-year performance period and prorated based on actual days of his employment during the applicable performance period.
Disability or Death
Under the 2023 STI Plan, if the employment of any of our named executive officers had been terminated as a result of disability or death on December 29, 2023, he or his estate would have been entitled to receive a payment under the 2023 STI Plan, determined based on actual performance.
Under our equity award agreements, if the employment of any of our named executive officers had been terminated as a result of disability or death on December 29, 2023, then (1) all restricted stock units granted to him effective March 5, 2021, March 5, 2022 and March 5, 2023 and, in the case of Mr. Walsh, August 12, 2020 and April 15, 2022, would have immediately vested, and (2) the target number of performance shares granted to him effective March 5, 2021, March 5, 2022 and March 5, 2023 would have immediately vested.
Quantitative Disclosure
The table below sets forth, for each named executive officer, quantitative disclosure regarding estimated payments and other benefits that would have been received by the named executive officer, or his estate, if his employment had terminated on December 29, 2023, the last business day of 2023, under the following circumstances:
77
Name |
|
Triggering Event |
|
Payments |
|
|
Other |
|
|
Equity |
|
|
Distribution of |
|
|
Total |
|
|||||
Harvey |
|
Voluntary Termination |
|
$ |
96,154 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
$ |
2,048,829 |
|
|
$ |
2,144,983 |
|
|
|
Termination for Cause |
|
$ |
96,154 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
$ |
96,154 |
|
|
|
Termination by us without Cause or by NEO with Good Reason |
|
$ |
1,081,704 |
|
|
$ |
4,407,836 |
|
|
$ |
6,155,863 |
|
|
$ |
2,048,829 |
|
|
$ |
13,694,231 |
|
|
|
Termination by us without Cause or by NEO with Good Reason Following CIC |
|
$ |
1,081,704 |
|
|
$ |
5,503,800 |
|
|
$ |
5,173,160 |
|
|
$ |
2,048,829 |
|
|
$ |
13,807,493 |
|
|
|
Retirement |
|
N/A |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
N/A |
|
|||||
|
|
Disability (5) |
|
$ |
1,081,704 |
|
|
$ |
409,450 |
|
|
$ |
6,155,863 |
|
|
$ |
2,048,829 |
|
|
$ |
9,695,845 |
|
|
|
Death (6) |
|
$ |
1,081,704 |
|
|
$ |
800,000 |
|
|
$ |
6,155,863 |
|
|
$ |
2,048,829 |
|
|
$ |
10,086,395 |
|
Donnan |
|
Voluntary Termination |
|
$ |
50,481 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
$ |
1,440,453 |
|
|
$ |
1,490,934 |
|
|
|
Termination for Cause |
|
$ |
50,481 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
$ |
50,481 |
|
|
|
Termination by us without Cause or by NEO with Good Reason |
|
$ |
50,481 |
|
|
$ |
290,327 |
|
|
$ |
2,354,242 |
|
|
$ |
1,440,453 |
|
|
$ |
4,135,503 |
|
|
|
Termination by us without Cause or by NEO with Good Reason Following CIC |
|
$ |
393,281 |
|
|
$ |
1,955,677 |
|
|
$ |
2,139,111 |
|
|
$ |
1,440,453 |
|
|
$ |
5,928,522 |
|
|
|
Retirement |
|
N/A |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
N/A |
|
|||||
|
|
Disability (5) |
|
$ |
393,281 |
|
|
$ |
481,936 |
|
|
$ |
2,354,242 |
|
|
$ |
1,440,453 |
|
|
$ |
4,669,912 |
|
|
|
Death (6) |
|
$ |
393,281 |
|
|
$ |
800,000 |
|
|
$ |
2,354,242 |
|
|
$ |
1,440,453 |
|
|
$ |
4,987,976 |
|
West |
|
Voluntary Termination |
|
$ |
41,538 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
$ |
243,675 |
|
|
$ |
285,214 |
|
|
|
Termination for Cause |
|
$ |
41,538 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
$ |
41,538 |
|
|
|
Termination by us without Cause or by NEO with Good Reason |
|
$ |
41,538 |
|
|
$ |
136,484 |
|
|
$ |
2,391,377 |
|
|
$ |
243,675 |
|
|
$ |
2,813,075 |
|
|
|
Termination by us without Cause or by NEO with Good Reason Following CIC |
|
$ |
41,538 |
|
|
$ |
991,384 |
|
|
$ |
2,178,865 |
|
|
$ |
243,675 |
|
|
$ |
3,455,462 |
|
|
|
Retirement |
|
N/A |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
N/A |
|
|||||
|
|
Disability (5) |
|
$ |
384,338 |
|
|
$ |
331,511 |
|
|
$ |
2,391,377 |
|
|
$ |
243,675 |
|
|
$ |
3,350,902 |
|
|
|
Death (6) |
|
$ |
384,338 |
|
|
$ |
320,000 |
|
|
$ |
2,391,377 |
|
|
$ |
243,675 |
|
|
$ |
3,339,391 |
|
Walsh |
|
Voluntary Termination |
|
$ |
38,462 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
$ |
158,116 |
|
|
$ |
196,578 |
|
|
|
Termination for Cause |
|
$ |
38,462 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
$ |
38,462 |
|
|
|
Termination by us without Cause or by NEO with Good Reason |
|
$ |
38,462 |
|
|
$ |
168,459 |
|
|
$ |
2,595,686 |
|
|
$ |
158,116 |
|
|
$ |
2,960,722 |
|
|
|
Termination by us without Cause or by NEO with Good Reason Following CIC |
|
$ |
38,462 |
|
|
$ |
168,459 |
|
|
$ |
2,508,060 |
|
|
$ |
158,116 |
|
|
$ |
2,873,097 |
|
|
|
Retirement |
|
N/A |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
N/A |
|
|||||
|
|
Disability (5) |
|
$ |
338,412 |
|
|
$ |
1,987,396 |
|
|
$ |
2,595,686 |
|
|
$ |
158,116 |
|
|
$ |
5,079,609 |
|
|
|
Death (6) |
|
$ |
338,412 |
|
|
$ |
800,000 |
|
|
$ |
2,595,686 |
|
|
$ |
158,116 |
|
|
$ |
3,892,213 |
|
Parkinson |
|
Voluntary Termination |
|
N/A |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
N/A |
|
|||||
|
|
Termination for Cause |
|
$ |
42,308 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
$ |
42,308 |
|
|
|
Termination by us without Cause or by NEO with Good Reason |
|
$ |
42,308 |
|
|
$ |
251,008 |
|
|
$ |
1,473,779 |
|
|
$ |
555,722 |
|
|
$ |
2,322,816 |
|
|
|
Termination by us without Cause or by NEO with Good Reason Following CIC |
|
$ |
42,308 |
|
|
$ |
251,008 |
|
|
$ |
1,371,822 |
|
|
$ |
555,722 |
|
|
$ |
2,220,859 |
|
|
|
Retirement |
|
$ |
213,708 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
$ |
413,850 |
|
|
$ |
555,722 |
|
|
$ |
1,183,279 |
|
|
|
Disability (5) |
|
$ |
213,708 |
|
|
$ |
292,488 |
|
|
$ |
1,473,779 |
|
|
$ |
555,722 |
|
|
$ |
2,535,696 |
|
|
|
Death (6) |
|
$ |
213,708 |
|
|
$ |
50,000 |
|
|
$ |
1,473,779 |
|
|
$ |
555,722 |
|
|
$ |
2,293,208 |
|
78
Pursuant to the terms of the performance shares granted to the named executive officers effective March 5, 2021, March 5, 2022 and March 5, 2023, if the Company declares cash dividends on our common stock and the record and payment dates for dividends occur on or after the date of grant but before common shares are issued or delivered in respect of such performance shares, the named executive officer will also be entitled to also receive a payment equal to the cash dividends that he would have received if the number of common shares so issued or delivered to him had been issued and outstanding and held of record by him from the date of grant through such issuance or delivery. Accordingly, the table also reflects an amount equal to the cash dividends the named executive officer would have received if the applicable number of performance shares determined as described above had been issued and outstanding and held of record by him from March 5, 2021, March 5, 2022, and March 5, 2023, as applicable, through the issuance and deliver of common shares in respect of such performance shares, assuming in each case that the Company does not declare any further cash dividends after December 29, 2023.
79
Pay Ratio
For the year ended December 31, 2023, (1) the annual total compensation of Mr. Harvey, our CEO, was $6,207,860 (the same amount as reported for him for 2023 in the Summary Compensation Table above); (2) the annual total compensation of our median employee (defined below) was $91,684; and (3) the resulting ratio of the annual total compensation of our CEO to the median of the annual total compensation of all of our employees and those of our consolidated subsidiaries (other than Mr. Harvey) was 68:1. This ratio is a reasonable estimate calculated in a manner consistent with Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K using the data and assumptions summarized above. The assumptions we used are specific to our company and our employee population. As a result, our pay ratio may not be comparable to the pay ratios of other companies. The total compensation of the median employee for the year ended December 31, 2023 was determined in the same manner as the total compensation shown for Mr. Harvey in the 2023 Summary Compensation Table.
There has been no change in our employee population or employee compensation arrangements in fiscal year 2023 that we believe would significantly impact the pay ratio disclosure. As a result, under instruction 2 to Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K, we are permitted to use the same median employee identified for 2022 for purposes of this disclosure.
We identified our median employee using the following methodology:
80
Pay Versus Performance
As required by Section 953(a) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, and Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, we are providing the following information about the relationship between executive “compensation actually paid” to our principal executive officers (“PEO”) and to our non-PEO named executive officers and certain financial performance of the Company.
Year |
|
Summary Compensation Table (SCT) Total for PEO 1 (1) |
|
|
Compensation actually paid to PEO 1 (1)(2)(3) |
|
|
SCT Total for PEO 2 (1) |
|
|
Compensation actually paid to PEO 2 (1)(2) |
|
|
Average SCT Total for non-PEO NEOs (1) |
|
|
Average compensation actually paid to non-PEO NEOs (1)(2)(4) |
|
|
Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment based on: |
|
|
Net Income (Loss) |
|
|
|
||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TSR |
|
|
Peer Group TSR (5) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
(a) |
|
(b) |
|
|
(c) |
|
|
(b) |
|
|
(c) |
|
|
(d) |
|
|
(e) |
|
|
(f) |
|
|
(g) |
|
|
(h) |
|
|
(i) |
|
||||||||||
2023 |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||||||||||
2022 |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
|||||||||
2021 |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
|||||||||
2020 |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
______________
Year |
|
Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO 1 |
|
Exclusion of Change in Pension Value for PEO 1 |
|
Exclusion of Stock Awards |
|
Inclusion of Equity Values |
|
Compensation Actually Paid to PEO 1 |
||||||||||||||||||||
2023 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
The amounts in the Inclusion of Equity Values in the tables above are derived from the amounts set forth in the following tables:
Year |
|
End Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted During Year That Remained Unvested as |
|
Change in Fair Value from Last Day of Prior Year to Last Day of Year of Unvested Equity Awards for PEO 1 |
|
Change in Fair Value from Last Day of Prior Year to Vesting Date of Unvested Equity Awards that Vested During Year for PEO 1 |
|
Change in Fair Value from Last Day of Prior Year to Vesting Date of Equity Awards that Forfeited During Year for PEO 1 |
|
Total Inclusion of Equity Values for PEO 1 |
||||||||||||||||||||
2023 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
Year |
|
Average Summary Compensation Table Total for non-PEO NEOs |
|
Average Exclusion of Change in Pension Value for Non-PEO NEOs |
|
Exclusion of Stock Awards |
|
Inclusion of Equity Values |
|
Average Compensation Actually Paid to non-PEO NEOs |
||||||||||||||||||||
2023 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
The amounts in the Inclusion of Equity Values in the tables above are derived from the amounts set forth in the following tables:
Year |
|
Average Year-End Fair Value of |
|
Average Change in Fair Value from Last Day of Prior Year to Last Day of Year of Unvested Equity Awards for Non-PEO NEOs |
|
Average Change in Fair Value from Last Day of Prior Year to Vesting Date of Unvested Equity Awards that Vested During Year for Non-PEO NEOs |
|
Total Average Inclusion of Equity Values for Non-PEO NEOs |
||||||||||||||||
2023 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
81
The tables below show the relationship between compensation actually paid to our PEOs and the average of the compensation actually paid to our non-PEO named executive officers and each of our Adjusted EBITDA, net income and TSR for fiscal years 2020 through 2023, plus the relationship between our TSR and Peer Group TSR for fiscal years 2020 through 2023. For ease of discussion, we have aggregated the compensation of Messrs. Harvey and Hockema for 2020, as each served as our CEO for a portion of 2020. See the section entitled “Executive Compensation - Compensation Discussion and Analysis” for a discussion of compensation paid to our named executive officers and see Appendix A to this Proxy Statement for reconciliations of GAAP to non-GAAP measures.
Compensation Actually Paid versus Net Income
The table below describes the relationship between compensation actually paid to our PEOs and the average of the compensation actually paid to our non-PEO named executive officers and our Net Income (Loss) for fiscal years 2020 through 2023.
Compensation Actually Paid versus Adjusted EBITDA
The table below describes the relationship between compensation actually paid to our PEOs and the average of the compensation actually paid to our non-PEO named executive officers and our Adjusted EBITDA for fiscal years 2020 through 2023.
82
Compensation Actually Paid versus TSR
The table below shows the relationship between compensation actually paid to our PEO and the average of the compensation actually paid to our non-PEO named executive officers and our cumulative TSR and between our cumulative TSR and the TSR of our peer group for fiscal years 2020 to 2023.
The table above also describes the relationship between our one-, two- and three-year cumulative TSR compared to the weighted average one-, two- and three-year cumulative TSR of the companies in the S&P SmallCap 600 Materials Index. As previously discussed, our TSR over the last three years was impacted by a series of external issues and challenges initiating with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic late in the first quarter of 2020 that negatively impacted the end markets for many of our products, including large commercial aerospace applications. In addition, while the S&P SmallCap 600 Materials Index reflects our industry sector, many of the companies included in the index were not as heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic related impact on the aerospace industry.
Tabular List of Most Important Performance Measures
The following are the most important financial performance measures used by the Company to link executive compensation actually paid to our named executive officers to the Company’s performance for the most recently completed fiscal year.
Most Important Performance Measures |
• |
• |
• |
83
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
The table below sets forth certain information concerning compensation of our executive chair and non-employee directors who served in 2023.
Director Compensation for 2023
Name |
|
Fees Earned or |
|
Stock Awards ($) (2) |
|
All Other Compensation ($) (3) |
|
Total ($) |
||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Michael C. Arnold |
|
|
$ |
135,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
144,530 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
5,213 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
284,743 |
|
|
David A. Foster |
|
|
$ |
105,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
144,530 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
5,213 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
254,743 |
|
|
Richard P. Grimley |
|
|
$ |
122,500 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
165,367 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
3,891 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
291,758 |
|
|
Jack A. Hockema |
|
|
$ |
250,000 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
21,515 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
271,515 |
|
|
|
Lauralee E. Martin |
|
|
$ |
120,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
144,530 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
5,213 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
269,743 |
|
|
Alfred E. Osborne, Jr., Ph.D. |
|
|
$ |
97,500 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
144,530 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
5,213 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
247,243 |
|
|
Teresa M. Sebastian |
|
|
$ |
112,500 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
144,530 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
5,213 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
262,243 |
|
|
Donald J. Stebbins |
|
|
$ |
112,500 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
144,530 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
5,213 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
262,243 |
|
|
Brett E. Wilcox |
|
|
$ |
120,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
144,530 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
5,213 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
269,743 |
|
|
Kevin W. Williams |
|
|
$ |
105,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
144,530 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
5,213 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
254,743 |
|
|
84
Director Compensation Arrangements
We periodically review director compensation in relation to other comparable companies and in light of other factors that the compensation committee deems appropriate and discuss director compensation with the full board of directors.
Pursuant to our current director compensation policy, each of our non-employee directors receives the following compensation:
In addition, pursuant to our director compensation policy, the Lead Independent Director receives an additional annual retainer of $30,000, the chair of each committee of the board each receives an additional annual retainer of $15,000, and the members of each committee of the board each receive $7,500 for each committee served, with all such amounts payable at the same time as the annual retainer. The Executive Chairman receives compensation in his role as Executive Chairman in an amount equal to the sum of the annual retainers and meeting fees paid by the Company to its directors for service on the board and the amount of the additional annual retainer paid by the Company to the Lead Independent Director. Each non-employee director may elect to receive shares of common stock in lieu of any or all of his or her annual retainer, including any additional annual retainer for service as the Lead Independent Director or the chair of a committee of the board of directors. Our stock ownership guidelines require our non-employee directors to own company stock equal in value to six times their annual base retainer.
The payment of annual retainers, including any additional annual retainer for service as Lead Independent Director or the chair of a committee of our board of directors, and the annual grant of restricted stock is made each year on the date on which we hold our annual meeting of stockholders, unless our board of directors determines such payment and grant should occur on another date. The number of shares of common stock to be received in the grant of restricted stock, as well as the number of shares of common stock to be received by any non-employee director electing to receive our common stock in lieu of any or all of his or her annual retainer, including any additional annual retainer, is based on the average of the closing prices per share of our common stock for the 20 trading days prior to the date such grant and payments are made.
We reimburse all of our directors for reasonable and customary travel and other disbursements relating to meetings of our board of directors and committees thereof, and non-employee directors are provided accident insurance with respect to company-related business travel.
85
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
The following table provides information as of December 31, 2023 with respect to shares of our common stock that may be issued under our equity compensation plans.
Plan Category |
|
Number of Shares |
|
Number of Shares |
||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|
(a) |
|
(c) |
|||||||
Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders (1) |
|
|
|
709,152 |
|
(2) |
|
|
|
506,031 |
|
(3) |
Equity compensation plans not approved by stockholders |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
||
Total |
|
|
|
709,152 |
|
(2) |
|
|
|
506,031 |
|
(3) |
86
PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS AND MANAGEMENT OWNERSHIP
The following table presents information regarding the number of shares of the Company's common stock beneficially owned as of April 17, 2024 by:
Unless otherwise indicated by footnote, the beneficial owner exercises sole voting and investment power over the shares noted below. The percentage of beneficial ownership for our directors and executive officers, both individually and as a group, is calculated based on 16,068,833 shares of our common stock outstanding as of April 17, 2024.
Name of Beneficial Owner |
|
Amount and Nature of |
|
Percent |
||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Directors and Named Executive Officers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Keith A. Harvey |
|
|
|
46,098 |
|
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
John M. Donnan |
|
|
|
18,461 |
|
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
Neal E. West |
|
|
|
13,026 |
|
(2) |
|
|
* |
|
|
|
Jason Walsh |
|
|
|
12,820 |
|
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
Raymond D. Parkinson |
|
|
|
7,384 |
|
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
Jack A. Hockema |
|
|
|
32,603 |
|
(3) |
|
|
* |
|
|
|
Michael C. Arnold |
|
|
|
4,999 |
|
(4) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
David A. Foster |
|
|
|
20,197 |
|
(4) |
|
|
* |
|
|
|
Richard P. Grimley |
|
|
|
2,537 |
|
(4) |
|
|
* |
|
|
|
Lauralee E. Martin |
|
|
|
2,060 |
|
(4) |
|
|
* |
|
|
|
Alfred E. Osborne, Jr., PhD |
|
|
|
29,499 |
|
(4)(5) |
|
|
* |
|
|
|
Teresa M. Sebastian |
|
|
|
8,240 |
|
(4)(6) |
|
|
* |
|
|
|
Donald J. Stebbins |
|
|
|
10,691 |
|
(4)(7) |
|
|
* |
|
|
|
Brett E. Wilcox |
|
|
|
21,209 |
|
(4) |
|
|
* |
|
|
|
Kevin W. Williams |
|
|
|
5,213 |
|
(4) |
|
|
* |
|
|
|
All current directors and executive officers as a group (17 persons) |
|
|
|
243,693 |
|
(2)(3)(4)(5) |
|
|
|
1.5 |
% |
|
5% Stockholders |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
BlackRock, Inc. |
|
|
|
2,914,662 |
|
(8) |
|
|
|
18.1 |
% |
|
Vanguard Group, Inc. |
|
|
|
1,887,751 |
|
(9) |
|
|
|
11.7 |
% |
|
Victory Capital Management Inc. |
|
|
|
1,311,625 |
|
(10) |
|
|
|
8.2 |
% |
|
State Street Corporation |
|
|
|
998,042 |
|
(11) |
|
|
|
6.2 |
% |
|
Invesco Ltd. |
|
|
|
912,982 |
|
(12) |
|
|
|
5.7 |
% |
|
Macquarie Group Limited |
|
|
|
858,581 |
|
(13) |
|
|
|
5.3 |
% |
|
Barrow Hanley Global Investors |
|
|
|
824,412 |
|
(14) |
|
|
|
5.1 |
% |
|
* Less than one percent.
87
Our corporate governance guidelines require that our board of directors conduct an appropriate review of all related-party transactions. The charter for the audit committee of our board of directors requires that any related-party transaction required to be disclosed under Item 404 of Regulation S-K must be approved by the audit committee. Neither our board of directors nor the audit committee has adopted any other specific policies or procedures for review or approval of related-party transactions.
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
The audit committee charter requires the audit committee to undertake a variety of activities designed to assist our board of directors in fulfilling its oversight role regarding our independent registered public accounting firm's independence, our financial reporting process, our internal control over financial reporting and our compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations. These requirements are briefly summarized under "Corporate Governance - Board Committees - Audit Committee" above. The audit committee charter also provides that the independent registered public accounting firm is ultimately accountable to our board of directors and the audit committee, not our management.
Our internal accountants prepare our consolidated financial statements and our independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for auditing those financial statements. The audit committee oversees the financial reporting processes implemented by our management but does not conduct any auditing or accounting reviews. The members of the audit committee are not company employees. Instead, the audit committee relies, without independent verification, on our management's representation that the financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles
88
generally accepted in the United States of America and on the report of our independent registered public accounting firm on our financial statements. The audit committee's oversight does not provide it with an independent basis for determining whether our management has maintained appropriate accounting and financial reporting principles or policies or appropriate internal controls and procedures designed to assure compliance with accounting standards and applicable laws and regulations. Furthermore, the audit committee's discussions with our management and its accountants do not ensure that the financial statements are presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America or that the audit of our financial statements has been carried out in accordance with auditing standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board or that our independent registered public accounting firm is in fact "independent."
We have engaged Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm to audit and report to our stockholders on our financial statements for 2024 and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024. The audit committee reviews annually the independence and performance of Deloitte & Touche LLP in connection with the audit committee's determination of whether to retain Deloitte & Touche LLP or engage another firm as our independent registered public accounting firm. In the course of these reviews, the audit committee considers, among other things:
Based on its review the audit committee believes that Deloitte & Touche LLP is independent and that it is in the best interests of our company and our stockholders to retain Deloitte & Touche LLP to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2024.
In accordance with rules of the SEC and Deloitte & Touche LLP's policies, audit partners are subject to rotation requirements to limit the number of consecutive years an individual partner may provide service to our company. For lead audit and engagement quality control review partners, the maximum number of consecutive years of service in that capacity is five years. In addition to ensuring the regular rotation of the lead audit partner as required by law, the audit committee is involved in the selection of, and reviews and evaluates, the lead audit partner. The process for approval of the lead audit partner for our company pursuant to this rotation policy involves a meeting between the chair of the audit committee and the candidate for the role, as well as discussion by the full committee and with management. The lead audit partner was rotated in 2023.
The audit committee has discussed with management and Deloitte & Touche LLP significant accounting policies applied by us in our financial statements as well as the critical accounting matter, revenue recognition. For a more detailed discussion of these accounting items, see Item 7. "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. During the year ended December 31, 2023, there were no disagreements with Deloitte & Touche LLP on any matter of accounting principle or practice, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure, which, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Deloitte & Touche LLP, would have caused them to make a reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in connection with its reports.
The audit committee reviewed and discussed the Company's audited financial statements contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 with our management. The audit committee has also discussed with our independent registered public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed pursuant to the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and the SEC.
The audit committee also received and reviewed the written disclosures and the letter from Deloitte & Touche LLP required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent
89
accountant's communications with the audit committee concerning independence and has discussed with Deloitte & Touche LLP its independence.
The audit committee discussed with our internal accountants and Deloitte & Touche LLP the overall scope and plans for their respective audits. The audit committee meets with management, our internal accountants and our independent accountants periodically in separate private sessions to discuss any matter that the audit committee, our management, our internal accountants, the independent accountants or such other persons believe should be discussed privately.
Based on the review and discussions referred to above, the audit committee recommended to our board of directors that our audited financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as filed with the SEC.
The audit committee considered whether, and concluded that, the provision by Deloitte & Touche LLP of the services for which we paid the amounts set forth under "Independent Public Accountants - Tax Fees" and "Independent Public Accountants - All Other Fees" below is compatible with maintaining the independence of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
This report is submitted by the members of the audit committee of the board of directors:
Audit Committee
Lauralee E. Martin (Chair)
Teresa M. Sebastian
Brett E. Wilcox
Kevin W. Williams
This Audit Committee Report does not constitute soliciting material and shall not be deemed filed or incorporated by reference into any other filing made by us under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate this Audit Committee Report by reference therein.
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
The following table presents fees for professional audit services rendered by Deloitte & Touche LLP for the audit of our annual financial statements for each of 2022 and 2023, and fees billed for other services rendered by Deloitte & Touche LLP.
|
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Audit Fees(1) |
|
|
$ |
3,023,502 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
2,844,299 |
|
|
Audit-Related Fees (2) |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
10,701 |
|
|
Tax Fees (3) |
|
|
$ |
9,793 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
8,886 |
|
|
All Other Fees (4) |
|
|
$ |
1,895 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,895 |
|
|
The audit committee charter requires that the audit committee pre-approve all audit and non-audit engagements, fees, terms and services in a manner consistent with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and all rules and applicable listing standards promulgated by the SEC and the Nasdaq Stock Market. The audit committee may delegate the authority to grant any pre-approvals of non-audit engagements to one or more members of the audit committee, provided that such member (or members) reports any pre-approvals to the audit committee at its next scheduled meeting. The audit committee has delegated pre-approval authority to its chair. All of the audit fees, audit-related fees, tax fees and other fees for 2023 were pre-approved by the audit committee.
90
Representatives of Deloitte & Touche LLP are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting and will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.
OTHER MATTERS
We do not know of any other matters to be presented or acted upon at the Annual Meeting. If any other matter is presented at the Annual Meeting on which a vote may properly be taken, the shares represented by proxies will be voted in accordance with the judgment of the proxy holders.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
To be considered for inclusion in our proxy statement for our 2025 annual meeting of stockholders, proposals of stockholders must be in writing and received by us no later than January 3, 2025. To be presented at the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders without inclusion in our proxy statement for such meeting, proposals of stockholders must be in writing and received by us no later than March 4, 2025 and no earlier than February 2, 2025, in accordance with procedures set forth in our bylaws. Such proposals should be mailed to Kaiser Aluminum Corporation, 1550 West McEwen Drive, Suite 500, Franklin, Tennessee 37067 and directed to the corporate secretary.
In addition to satisfying the foregoing requirements and other procedures set forth under our Bylaws, to comply with the universal proxy rules, stockholders who intend to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than the Board’s nominees must provide notice that sets forth the information required by Rule 14a-19 of the Exchange Act (including a statement that such stockholder intends to solicit the holders of shares representing at least 67% of the voting power of the Company’s shares entitled to vote on the election of directors in support of nominees other than the Company’s nominees) no later than April 12, 2025 for the 2025 annual meeting; provided, however, that if the date of the 2025 annual meeting is changed by more than 30 calendar days from the anniversary of the Annual Meeting, then the notice must be provided by the later of 60 calendar days prior to the 2025 annual meeting or the 10th calendar day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the 2025 annual meeting is first made
|
By Order of the Board of Directors |
|
|
|
John M. Donnan |
|
Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative |
|
Officer and General Counsel |
Franklin, Tennessee
April 26, 2024
91
Appendix A
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures - Consolidated
(Unaudited)
(In millions of dollars, except share and per share amounts)
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|||||||||
|
2023 |
|
|
2022 |
|
|
2021 |
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Net sales |
$ |
3,087.0 |
|
|
$ |
3,427.9 |
|
|
$ |
2,622.0 |
|
Hedged cost of alloyed metal1 |
|
(1,621.1 |
) |
|
|
(2,045.2 |
) |
|
|
(1,511.0 |
) |
Conversion revenue |
$ |
1,465.9 |
|
|
$ |
1,382.7 |
|
|
$ |
1,111.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
GAAP net income (loss) |
$ |
47.2 |
|
|
$ |
(29.6 |
) |
|
$ |
(18.5 |
) |
Interest expense |
|
46.9 |
|
|
|
48.3 |
|
|
|
49.5 |
|
Other (income) expense, net |
|
(7.4 |
) |
|
|
(6.4 |
) |
|
|
38.9 |
|
Income tax provision (benefit) |
|
9.1 |
|
|
|
(8.3 |
) |
|
|
(5.5 |
) |
GAAP operating income |
$ |
95.8 |
|
|
$ |
4.0 |
|
|
$ |
64.4 |
|
Mark-to-market loss2 |
|
- |
|
|
|
1.4 |
|
|
|
1.4 |
|
Restructuring cost (benefit) |
|
5.0 |
|
|
|
2.2 |
|
|
|
(0.8 |
) |
Acquisition cost3 |
|
- |
|
|
|
0.4 |
|
|
|
28.0 |
|
Goodwill impairment |
|
- |
|
|
|
20.5 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Non-cash asset impairment charge |
|
- |
|
|
|
3.2 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Other operating NRR loss4,5 |
|
0.2 |
|
|
|
3.3 |
|
|
|
0.3 |
|
Operating income, excluding operating NRR items |
|
101.0 |
|
|
|
35.0 |
|
|
|
93.3 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
108.6 |
|
|
|
106.9 |
|
|
|
91.5 |
|
Adjusted EBITDA6 |
$ |
209.6 |
|
|
$ |
141.9 |
|
|
$ |
184.8 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
GAAP net income (loss) |
$ |
47.2 |
|
|
$ |
(29.6 |
) |
|
$ |
(18.5 |
) |
Operating NRR items |
|
5.2 |
|
|
|
31.0 |
|
|
|
28.9 |
|
Non-operating NRR items7 |
|
(8.9 |
) |
|
|
(4.6 |
) |
|
|
38.1 |
|
Tax impact of above NRR items7 |
|
0.8 |
|
|
|
(5.5 |
) |
|
|
(15.9 |
) |
Adjusted net income (loss) |
$ |
44.3 |
|
|
$ |
(8.7 |
) |
|
$ |
32.6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
GAAP income (loss) per diluted share8 |
$ |
2.92 |
|
|
$ |
(1.86 |
) |
|
$ |
(1.17 |
) |
Adjusted earnings (loss) per diluted share7,8 |
$ |
2.74 |
|
|
$ |
(0.55 |
) |
|
$ |
2.03 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Adjusted net debt |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Long-term debt |
$ |
1,050.0 |
|
|
$ |
1,050.0 |
|
|
$ |
1,050.0 |
|
Less: Cash and cash equivalents |
$ |
82.4 |
|
|
$ |
57.4 |
|
|
$ |
303.2 |
|
Adjusted net debt |
$ |
967.6 |
|
|
$ |
992.6 |
|
|
$ |
746.8 |
|
Adjusted EBITDA6 |
$ |
209.6 |
|
|
$ |
141.9 |
|
|
$ |
184.8 |
|
Net debt leverage ratio9 |
|
4.6 |
|
|
|
7.0 |
|
|
|
4.0 |
|
1 |
Hedged cost of alloyed metal is the average Midwest transaction price of aluminum plus the cost of certain alloys used in the production process plus any realized gains and/or losses on settled hedges, related to the metal sold in the referenced period. |
2 |
Mark-to-market loss on derivative instruments includes the loss on non-designated commodity hedges. Adjusted EBITDA reflects the realized loss of such settlements. |
3 |
Acquisition costs are non-run-rate acquisition-related transaction items, which include professional fees, as well as non-cash hedging charges recorded in connection with the Warrick acquisition. |
4 |
NRR is an abbreviation for non-run-rate; NRR items are pre-tax. |
5 |
Other operating NRR items primarily represent the impact of adjustments to environmental expenses and net periodic post retirement service cost relating to Salaried VEBA. |
1
6 |
Adjusted EBITDA = Consolidated operating income, excluding operating NRR items, plus Depreciation and amortization. |
7 |
Non-operating NRR items represent the impact of non-cash net periodic benefit cost related to the Salaried VEBA excluding service cost and gains recorded from the sale of land. |
8 |
Diluted shares for EPS are calculated using the two-class method for the year ended December 31, 2023 and the treasury method for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, and were excluded from the computations in periods of net loss per share as their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive. |
9 |
Represents Long term debt (excluding unamortized finance costs) for senior notes less cash and cash equivalents divided by Adjusted EBITDA. |
The Proxy Statement contains certain non-GAAP financial measures. A “non-GAAP financial measure” is defined as a numerical measure of a company’s financial performance that excludes or includes amounts so as to be different than the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP in the statements of income, balance sheets, or statements of cash flow of the Company. This Appendix A provides a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measure. The non-GAAP financial measures used within the Proxy Statement are conversion revenue, net debt leverage ratio, Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, and adjusted earnings per diluted share, which exclude non-run-rate items and ratios related thereto. “Non-run-rate” items are items that, while they may occur from period to period, are particularly material to results, impact costs primarily as a result of external market factors and may not occur in future periods if the same level of underlying performance were to occur. These measures are presented because management uses this information to monitor and evaluate financial results and trends and believes this information to also be useful for investors.
2
Appendix B
Kaiser Aluminum Corporation
2021 EQUITY and INCENTIVE Compensation PLAN
(Amended and Restated Effective June 11, 2024)
1
If the Committee determines that a change in the business, operations, corporate structure or capital structure of the Company, or the manner in which it conducts its business, or other events or circumstances render the Management Objectives unsuitable, the Committee may in its discretion modify such Management Objectives or the goals or
2
actual levels of achievement regarding the Management Objectives, in whole or in part, as the Committee deems appropriate and equitable.
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
For purposes of this Section 12(b), (1) “Beneficial Owner,” “Beneficial Ownership,” “Beneficially Own” and “Beneficially Owns” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act; (2) “Business Combination” means a reorganization, merger or consolidation, or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or the acquisition of assets of another corporation or entity, or other transaction; (3) “Incumbent Directors” means the individuals who, as of the Effective Date, are Directors and any individual becoming a Director subsequent to the Effective Date whose election, nomination for election by the Shareholders, or appointment was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the then Incumbent Directors (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person is named as a nominee for director without objection to such nomination); provided,however, that an individual shall not be an Incumbent Director if such individual’s election or appointment to the Board occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest (as described in Rule 14a-12(c) of the Exchange Act) with respect to the election or removal of Directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board; (4) “Person” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, including a “group” as defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act; and (5) “Voting Stock” means securities entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors (or similar governing bodies).
12
13
14
15
16
17
1
2