DEF 14A 1 d463041ddef14a.htm DEF 14A DEF 14A
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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities

Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.    )

Filed by the Registrant  ☒

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  ☐

Check the appropriate box:

 

Preliminary Proxy Statement

 

Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

 

Definitive Proxy Statement

 

Definitive Additional Materials

 

Soliciting Material under Rule 14a-12

MEDNAX, INC.

 

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

 

 

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

 

No Fee Required.

 

Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.

 

  (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

  

 

 

  (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

  

 

 

  (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

  

 

 

  (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

  

 

 

  (5) Total fee paid:

  

 

 

Fee paid previously with preliminary materials:

  

 

 

Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

  

 

 

  (1) Amount Previously Paid:

  

 

 

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  (4) Date Filed:

  

 


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LOGO

 


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LOGO

1301 Concord Terrace

Sunrise, Florida 33323-2825

(954) 384-0175

March 23, 2018

Dear MEDNAX Shareholder:

You are cordially invited to attend the 2018 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting of MEDNAX, Inc. (“MEDNAX”) on Wednesday, May 16, 2018, beginning at 9:30 a.m. (ET) at the DoubleTree by Hilton Sunrise, located at 13400 West Sunrise Boulevard, Sunrise, Florida, 33323.

At the annual meeting, we will ask you to vote on the election of Roger J. Medel, M.D., Cesar L. Alvarez, Karey D. Barker, Waldemar A. Carlo, M.D., Michael B. Fernandez, Paul G. Gabos, Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., Manuel Kadre and Enrique J. Sosa, Ph.D. to MEDNAX’s Board of Directors, to ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the 2018 fiscal year, to conduct an advisory vote regarding executive compensation and act upon any other business properly brought before the meeting. Please vote on all the matters described in our Proxy Statement. Your Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” the election of each of the nine nominees for Director stated above, “FOR” ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the 2018 fiscal year, and “FOR” the approval of the compensation of our named executive officers.

Under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), we are providing access to our proxy materials over the Internet. Accordingly, we are sending a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “E-Proxy Notice”) on or about March 30, 2018, to MEDNAX’s shareholders of record at the close of business on March 12, 2018. The E-Proxy Notice contains instructions for your use of this process, including how to access our Proxy Statement and Annual Report and how to vote online. In addition, the E-Proxy Notice contains instructions on how you may (i) receive a paper copy of the Proxy Statement and Annual Report or (ii) elect to receive your Proxy Statement and Annual Report over the Internet.

Whether or not you plan to attend in person, it is important that your shares be represented and voted at the annual meeting. You may vote your shares over the Internet as described in the E-Proxy Notice. As an alternative, if you received a paper copy of the proxy card by mail, please mark, sign, date and promptly return the card in the self-addressed stamped envelope provided. You may also vote by telephone as described in your proxy card. Voting by telephone, over the Internet or by mailing a proxy card will not limit your right to attend the annual meeting and vote your shares in person. We appreciate your continued support of our company.

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Roger J. Medel, M.D.

Chief Executive Officer


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MEDNAX, INC.

NOTICE OF 2018 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON MAY 16, 2018

To the Shareholders of MEDNAX, Inc.:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2018 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting of MEDNAX, Inc., a Florida corporation (“MEDNAX”), will be held at 9:30 a.m., ET, on Wednesday, May 16, 2018, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Sunrise, 13400 West Sunrise Boulevard, Sunrise, Florida, 33323, for the following purposes, as more fully described in our Proxy Statement:

 

   

to elect Roger J. Medel, M.D., Cesar L. Alvarez, Karey D. Barker, Waldemar A. Carlo, M.D., Michael B. Fernandez, Paul G. Gabos, Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., Manuel Kadre and Enrique J. Sosa, Ph.D. as Directors, each for a term expiring at the next annual meeting or until his or her successor has been duly elected and qualified;

 

   

to ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the 2018 fiscal year;

 

   

to cast an advisory vote approving MEDNAX’s executive compensation; and

 

   

to consider and act upon such other business as may properly come before the annual meeting.

The Board of Directors of MEDNAX has fixed the close of business on March 12, 2018, as the record date for determining those shareholders entitled to notice of, to attend and to vote at the meeting and any postponement or adjournment thereof.

Whether or not you plan to attend, please vote your shares over the Internet, as described in the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “E-Proxy Notice”). As an alternative, if you received a paper copy of the proxy card by mail, please mark, sign, date and promptly return the proxy card in the self-addressed stamped envelope provided. You may also vote by telephone as described in your proxy card. Shareholders who vote over the Internet, following the instructions provided in the E-Proxy Notice, who return proxy cards by mail or vote by telephone prior to the meeting may nevertheless attend the meeting, revoke their proxies and vote their shares in person.

By Order of the Board of Directors,

 

LOGO

Dominic J. Andreano

Senior Vice President,

General Counsel and Secretary

Sunrise, Florida

March 23, 2018


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT OUR ANNUAL MEETING

     1  

What Is the Date, Time and Place of the Annual Meeting?

     1  

What Is the Purpose of the Annual Meeting?

     1  

Who Is Entitled to Vote at the Annual Meeting?

     2  

What Are the Voting Rights of MEDNAX’s Shareholders?

     2  

What Constitutes a Quorum?

     2  

What Are “Broker Non-Votes”?

     2  

How Are Abstentions and Broker Non-Votes Treated?

     2  

Will My Shares Be Voted if I Do Not Provide My Proxy?

     2  

How Do I Vote?

     3  

What Vote Is Required for the Proposals?

     3  

How Does the Board of Directors Recommend I Vote on the Proposals?

     4  

How Will My Proxy Holders Vote?

     4  

Can I Change My Vote After I Have Voted?

     4  

Who Pays for the Preparation of the Proxy Statement?

     4  

PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF MEDNAX’S DIRECTORS

     5  

GOVERNANCE AND RELATED MATTERS

     5  

Questions and Answers About Our Corporate Governance Practices

     6  

What Committees Have Our Board of Directors Established?

     6  

How Many Times Did Our Board of Directors Meet During 2017?

     6  

Are a Majority of Our Directors Independent?

     6  

Who Are the “Chairman of the Board” and “Lead Independent Director”?

     6  

What Role Does the Board of Directors Serve in Risk Oversight for the Company?

     7  

How Can Shareholders Communicate with the Board of Directors?

     7  

Has MEDNAX Adopted a Code of Conduct?

     7  

Has MEDNAX Adopted a Clawback Policy?

     7  

Does MEDNAX Require its Executive Officers and Board of Directors to Retain a Certain Amount of MEDNAX Common Stock?

     8  

Has MEDNAX Adopted an Anti-Hedging and Anti-Pledging Policy?

     8  

Does MEDNAX Have a Director Retirement Age Policy?

     8  

Report of the Audit Committee

     8  

DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

     10  

MEDNAX’s Directors and Executive Officers

     10  

Committees of the Board of Directors

     13  

Audit Committee

     13  

Compensation Committee

     13  

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

     14  

Risk Considerations in Our Compensation Programs

     14  

Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions

     15  

Review and Approval of Related Person Transactions

     15  

Transactions with Related Persons

     15  

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

     15  

 

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION: COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS (“CD&A”)

     16  

SECTION I: A MESSAGE TO OUR SHAREHOLDERS

     16  

SECTION II: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

     17  

2017 Business Highlights

     17  

Response to Say-on-Pay Vote and Shareholder Outreach

     18  

CEO Pay At-A-Glance

     18  

SECTION III: OVERVIEW OF THE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION PROGRAM

     19  

The Guiding Principles of Our Pay Philosophy

     19  

Elements of Pay

     20  

Pay Mix

     20  

How Pay Decisions Are Made

     20  

SECTION IV: THE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION PROGRAM IN DETAIL

     23  

Base Salary

     23  

Annual Bonuses

     24  

Equity-Based Awards

     25  

2017 Equity-Based Awards

     25  

Other Practices, Policies & Guidelines

     28  

Equity Grant Practices

     28  

Clawback Policy

     29  

Stock Ownership and Retention Policy

     29  

Anti-Hedging and Anti-Pledging Policy

     30  

Retirement and Deferred Compensation Plans

     30  

Benefits and Perquisites

     30  

Termination of Employment and Change in Control Agreements

     31  

Summary Compensation Table

     32  

Grants of Plan-Based Awards in 2017

     33  

Outstanding Equity Awards at 2017 Fiscal Year-End

     34  

Options Exercised and Stock Vested in Fiscal Year 2017

     35  

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

     35  

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER PAY RATIO

     42  

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

     43  

SHARE OWNERSHIP INFORMATION

     44  

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

     44  

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

     44  

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

     46  

Independent Auditors

     46  

Fees Paid to Independent Auditors

     46  

Audit Fees

     46  

Audit-Related Fees

     46  

Tax Fees

     46  

All Other Fees

     46  

Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

     46  

PROPOSAL 2: RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

     47  

PROPOSAL 3: ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

     48  

OTHER BUSINESS

     49  

AVAILABILITY OF ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

     49  

INFORMATION CONCERNING SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

     49  

 

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MEDNAX, INC.

1301 Concord Terrace

Sunrise, Florida 33323-2825

PROXY STATEMENT

We are furnishing this Proxy Statement and related materials to MEDNAX’s shareholders as part of the solicitation of proxies by MEDNAX’s Board of Directors for use at MEDNAX’s 2018 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting and at any postponement or adjournment of the meeting. As used in this Proxy Statement, unless the context otherwise requires, the terms “MEDNAX,” “we,” “us,” “our” and the “Company” refer to the parent company, MEDNAX, Inc., a Florida corporation, and the consolidated subsidiaries through which its businesses are actually conducted, together with MEDNAX’s affiliated business corporations or professional associations, professional corporations, limited liability companies and partnerships. All share and per share data set forth herein give effect to the two-for-one splits of our common stock that became effective on April 13, 2006 and December 19, 2013.

On December 31, 2008, Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc., a Florida corporation (“Pediatrix”), and MEDNAX completed a holding company formation transaction that established MEDNAX as the parent company of Pediatrix, now known as MEDNAX Services, Inc. Throughout this Proxy Statement, when we refer to MEDNAX or to the Company in reference to activities that occurred prior to the reorganization on December 31, 2008, we are referring to Pediatrix, and when we refer to the Company in reference to activities occurring after the reorganization, we are referring to MEDNAX, except to the extent the context otherwise indicates.

Under the rules and regulations of the SEC, we are furnishing our proxy materials to our shareholders over the Internet and providing a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “E-Proxy Notice”) by mail instead of mailing a printed copy of our proxy materials, which include our Proxy Statement and Annual Report, to all MEDNAX shareholders. The E-Proxy Notice will instruct you on how you may access and review all of the important information contained in the proxy materials. The E-Proxy Notice also instructs you how you may submit your proxy via the Internet. You will not receive a printed copy of the proxy materials unless you request to receive these materials in hard copy by following the instructions provided in the E-Proxy Notice.

We are mailing the E-Proxy Notice on or about March 30, 2018, to MEDNAX’s shareholders of record at the close of business on March 12, 2018.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT OUR ANNUAL MEETING

What Is the Date, Time and Place of the Annual Meeting?

MEDNAX’s 2018 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 16, 2018, beginning at 9:30 a.m. (ET) at the DoubleTree by Hilton Sunrise, 13400 West Sunrise Boulevard, Sunrise, Florida, 33323.

What Is the Purpose of the Annual Meeting?

At the annual meeting, MEDNAX’s shareholders will be asked to:

 

   

elect nine Directors, each for a term expiring at the next annual meeting or until his or her successor has been duly elected and qualified;

 

   

ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the 2018 fiscal year;

 

   

cast an advisory vote regarding executive compensation; and

 

   

consider and act upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting.

 

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Who Is Entitled to Vote at the Annual Meeting?

Only holders of record of our common stock at the close of business on March 12, 2018, the record date for the meeting, are entitled to notice of, to attend and to vote at the annual meeting, or any postponements or adjournments of the meeting. At the close of business on the record date, 94,382,958 shares of our common stock were issued and outstanding and were held by approximately 372 holders of record.

What Are the Voting Rights of MEDNAX’s Shareholders?

MEDNAX’s shareholders have one vote per share of MEDNAX common stock owned on the record date for each matter properly presented at the annual meeting. For example, if you owned 100 shares of our common stock at the close of business on March 12, 2018, you can cast 100 votes for each matter properly presented at the annual meeting.

What Constitutes a Quorum?

A quorum will be present at the meeting if holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock on the record date are represented at the meeting in person or by proxy. If a quorum is not present at the meeting, MEDNAX expects to postpone or adjourn the meeting to solicit additional proxies. Abstentions, including broker non-votes (as described below), will be counted as shares present and entitled to vote for the purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum.

What Are “Broker Non-Votes”?

“Broker non-votes” occur when shares held by a brokerage firm are not voted with respect to a proposal because the firm has not received voting instructions from the shareholder and the firm does not have the authority to vote the shares at its discretion. Under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, brokerage firms may have the authority to vote their customers’ shares on certain routine matters for which they do not receive voting instructions, including the ratification of the appointment of independent auditors. The election of directors and the advisory vote on executive compensation are considered “non-routine” matters under the New York Stock Exchange rules. In addition, other matters may properly be brought before the meeting that may be considered “non-routine” under the applicable New York Stock Exchange rules. Shares held by a brokerage firm will not be voted on such non-routine matters by a brokerage firm unless it has received voting instructions from the shareholder and, accordingly, any such shares will be “broker non-votes.”

How Are Abstentions and Broker Non-Votes Treated?

Abstentions and broker non-votes are counted as present for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as votes cast either in favor of or against the election of the nominees for Director or the advisory vote on executive compensation. Abstentions will not be counted as votes cast either in favor of or against the ratification of the appointment of our independent auditors.

Will My Shares Be Voted if I Do Not Provide My Proxy?

If your shares are held in the name of a brokerage firm, they will not be voted by the brokerage firm except as described above if you do not give the brokerage firm specific voting instructions. If you are a registered shareholder and hold your shares directly in your own name, your shares will not be voted unless you provide a proxy or fill out a written ballot in person at the meeting.

 

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How Do I Vote?

You can vote in any of the following ways:

To vote via the Internet:

 

   

Follow the instructions on your proxy card and E-Proxy Notice; and

 

   

Vote your shares as instructed on your proxy card and E-Proxy Notice.

To vote by telephone if you are a registered shareholder who received a paper proxy card:

 

   

Dial 1-800-690-6903 from any touch-tone telephone at any time up until 11:59 p.m. ET on May 15, 2018; and

 

   

Have your proxy card in hand and follow the instructions given to you on the line.

To vote by mail if you are a registered shareholder who received a paper proxy card:

 

   

Mark, sign and date your proxy card; and

 

   

Return it in the envelope provided.

To vote if you hold your shares in “street name,” follow the instructions of your bank or broker or vote in person as described below.

To vote in person if you hold your shares in “street name”:

 

   

Attend our annual meeting;

 

   

Bring valid photo identification; and

 

   

Obtain a legal proxy from your bank or broker to vote the shares that are held for your benefit, attach it to your completed proxy card and deliver it in person.

To vote in person if you are a registered shareholder:

 

   

Attend our annual meeting;

 

   

Bring valid photo identification; and

 

   

Deliver your completed proxy card or ballot in person.

What Vote Is Required for the Proposals?

Assuming that a quorum is present at the annual meeting, the nine Director nominees receiving the highest number of affirmative votes from holders of our common stock will be elected as Directors of MEDNAX.

MEDNAX has a majority voting policy as part of its corporate governance principles. The majority voting policy is applicable solely to uncontested elections, which are those elections in which the number of nominees for election is less than or equal to the number of directors to be elected. Under the majority voting policy, any nominee for director who receives more “withheld” votes than “for” votes in an uncontested election must submit a written offer to resign as director. Any such resignation will be reviewed by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and, within 90 days after the election, the independent members of the Board of Directors will determine whether to accept, reject or take other appropriate action with respect to, the resignation, in furtherance of the best interests of MEDNAX and its shareholders.

Assuming that a quorum is present, ratification of the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm and approval of the compensation of our named executive officers each requires a majority of the votes cast on the proposal at the annual meeting.

 

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How Does the Board of Directors Recommend I Vote on the Proposals?

The Board of Directors recommends that you vote:

 

   

“FOR” the election of each of the nine nominees for Director named in this Proxy Statement;

 

   

“FOR” the ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the 2018 fiscal year; and

 

   

“FOR” the approval of the compensation of our named executive officers.

How Will My Proxy Holders Vote?

The enclosed proxy designates Roger J. Medel, M.D., our Chief Executive Officer, Dominic J. Andreano, our Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, and Vivian Lopez-Blanco, our Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, each with full power of substitution, to hold your proxy and vote your shares. Dr. Medel, Mr. Andreano and Ms. Lopez-Blanco will vote all shares of our common stock represented by proxies properly submitted via telephone or the Internet or properly executed proxies received in time for the annual meeting in the manner specified by the holders of those shares. Dr. Medel, Mr. Andreano and Ms. Lopez-Blanco intend to vote all shares of our common stock represented by proxies properly submitted via telephone, or the Internet, or that are properly executed by the record holder but otherwise do not contain voting instructions, as follows:

 

   

“FOR” the election of each of the nine nominees for Director named in this Proxy Statement;

 

   

“FOR” the ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the 2018 fiscal year;

 

   

“FOR” the approval of the compensation of our named executive officers; and

 

   

in accordance with the recommendation of MEDNAX’s Board of Directors, “FOR” or “AGAINST” all other matters as may properly come before the annual meeting.

Can I Change My Vote After I Have Voted?

Voting by telephone, over the Internet or by mailing a proxy card does not preclude a shareholder from voting in person at the meeting. A shareholder may revoke a proxy, whether submitted via telephone, the Internet or mailed, at any time prior to its exercise by filing with MEDNAX’s Secretary a duly executed revocation of proxy, by properly submitting, either by telephone, mail or Internet, a proxy to MEDNAX’s Secretary bearing a later date or by appearing at the meeting and voting in person. Attendance at the meeting will not itself constitute revocation of a proxy.

Who Pays for the Preparation of the Proxy Statement?

MEDNAX will bear the cost of the solicitation of proxies from its shareholders, including preparing, printing and mailing this Proxy Statement, should you request a printed copy of the proxy materials, and the E-Proxy Notice. In addition to solicitations by mail, MEDNAX’s Directors, officers and employees, and those of its subsidiaries and affiliates, may solicit proxies from shareholders by telephone or other electronic means or in person but will receive no additional compensation for soliciting such proxies. MEDNAX will cause banks and brokerage firms and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to forward solicitation materials to the beneficial owners of our common stock held of record by such banks, brokerage firms, custodians, nominees and fiduciaries. MEDNAX will reimburse such banks, brokerage firms, custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in doing so.

 

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PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF MEDNAX’S DIRECTORS

MEDNAX’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended (our “Articles of Incorporation”), and Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that the number of Directors constituting MEDNAX’s Board of Directors will be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by MEDNAX’s Board of Directors. Upon the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the nominees for Director to be elected at the annual meeting in 2018 by the holders of our common stock are as follows:

 

   

Roger J. Medel, M.D., who has served as a Director since 1979;

 

   

Cesar L. Alvarez, who has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors since May 2004 and as a Director since March 1997;

 

   

Karey D. Barker, who has served as a Director since May 2015;

 

   

Manuel Kadre, who has served as Lead Independent Director since March 2014 and as a Director since May 2007;

 

   

Waldemar A. Carlo, M.D., who has served as a Director since June 1999;

 

   

Michael B. Fernandez, who has served as a Director since October 1995;

 

   

Paul G. Gabos, who has served as a Director since November 2002;

 

   

Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., who has served as a Director since March 2006; and

 

   

Enrique J. Sosa, Ph.D., who has served as a Director since May 2004.

Please see below under “Directors and Executive Officers” for the biographies of these nominees for Director.

Each Director elected will serve for a term expiring at MEDNAX’s 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which is expected to be held in May 2019, or until his or her successor has been duly elected and qualified.

MEDNAX’s Board of Directors has no reason to believe that any nominee will refuse to act or be unable to accept election; however, in the event that a nominee for a directorship is unable to accept election or if any other unforeseen contingencies should arise, proxies will be voted for the remaining nominees and for such other person as may be designated by MEDNAX’s Board of Directors, unless the proxies provide otherwise.

If a quorum is present at the annual meeting, the nine nominees receiving the highest number of votes “FOR” election will be elected to the Board of Directors of MEDNAX, subject to the majority voting policy described above. Proxies will be voted “FOR” all such nominees absent contrary instructions.

MEDNAX’s Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” the election of each of the nine nominees for Director.

GOVERNANCE AND RELATED MATTERS

Our business, property and affairs are managed under the direction of our Board of Directors, except with respect to those matters reserved for our shareholders. Our Board of Directors establishes our overall corporate policies, reviews the performance of our senior management in executing our business strategy and managing our day-to-day operations and acts as an advisor to our senior management. Our Board of Directors’ mission is to further the long-term interests of our shareholders. Members of the Board of Directors are kept informed of MEDNAX’s business through discussions with MEDNAX’s management, primarily at meetings of the Board of Directors and its committees, and through reports and analyses presented to them. Significant communications between our Directors and senior management occur apart from such meetings.

 

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Questions and Answers About Our Corporate Governance Practices

What Committees Have Our Board of Directors Established?

The standing committees of MEDNAX’s Board of Directors are the Executive Committee, the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Medical Science and Technology Committee. Copies of the charters for these committees, as well as our corporate governance principles, are available on our website at www.mednax.com. Our website and the information contained therein, other than material expressly referred to in this Proxy Statement, or connected thereto, are not incorporated into this Proxy Statement. A copy of our committee charters and corporate governance principles are also available upon request from MEDNAX’s Secretary at 1301 Concord Terrace, Sunrise, Florida 33323.

How Many Times Did Our Board of Directors Meet During 2017?

During 2017, MEDNAX’s Board of Directors held eight meetings. Committees of the Board of Directors held a combined total of 18 meetings and also took various actions by unanimous written consent. Each Director attended at least 75% of the total number of meetings of MEDNAX’s Board of Directors and its committees held during 2017 during the period he or she was a member thereof. Although MEDNAX has no formal policy with respect to its Directors’ attendance at MEDNAX’s Annual Shareholders’ Meetings, in 2017 all of our Directors attended the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting.

Are a Majority of Our Directors Independent?

Our Board of Directors has reviewed information about each of our non-employee Directors and made the determination that all of the non-employee Directors on our Board of Directors are independent. In arriving at this conclusion, our Board of Directors made the affirmative determination that each of Drs. Carlo, Goldschmidt and Sosa, Ms. Barker and Messrs. Alvarez, Fernandez, Gabos and Kadre and Donna E. Shalala, Ph.D., who resigned from our Board of Directors effective March 7, 2018, meet the Board of Directors’ previously adopted categorical standards for determining independence in accordance with the New York Stock Exchange’s corporate governance rules. In making this determination, the Board of Directors considered transactions and relationships between each Director or any member of his or her immediate family and MEDNAX and its subsidiaries and affiliates. These transactions consisted of those transactions reported below under “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions — Transactions with Related Persons.” Our Board of Directors determined that each of these transactions and relationships was within the New York Stock Exchange standards and our categorical standards and that none of the transactions or relationships affected the independence of the Director involved. Our adopted categorical standards for determining independence in accordance with the New York Stock Exchange’s corporate governance rules are contained in our corporate governance principles, a copy of which is available on our Website at www.mednax.com.

Who Are the “Chairman of the Board” and “Lead Independent Director”?

To assist the Board of Directors in fulfilling its obligations, following each annual meeting of the shareholders, MEDNAX’s Board of Directors designates a non-management Director as “Chairman of the Board.” In addition, the Board of Directors, by a majority vote of the non-management Directors, may also designate a non-management Director as “Lead Independent Director.”

MEDNAX separates the roles of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board in recognition of the differences between the two roles. The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for determining the strategic direction for the Company and the day-to-day leadership and performance of the Company. The principal responsibility of the Chairman of the Board is to serve as chief administrative liaison between independent Directors and MEDNAX management and to monitor implementation of Board of Directors’ directives and actions. The principal responsibility of the Lead Independent Director, if designated, is to work collaboratively

 

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with the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer with respect to Board of Directors governance and process. The Lead Independent Director has additional responsibilities and authorities set out in our corporate governance principles.

At least once a year, the Chairman of the Board or Lead Independent Director also presides over meetings of our independent Directors. Following our 2017 annual meeting of shareholders, our Board of Directors appointed Mr. Alvarez to serve as Chairman of the Board and Mr. Kadre to serve as Lead Independent Director.

What Role Does the Board of Directors Serve in Risk Oversight for the Company?

The Board of Directors provides oversight of the Company’s risk exposure by receiving periodic reports from senior management regarding matters relating to financial, operational, regulatory, legal and strategic risks and mitigation strategies for such risks. In addition, as reflected in the Audit Committee Charter, the Board of Directors has delegated to the Audit Committee responsibility to oversee, discuss and evaluate the Company’s policies and guidelines with respect to risk assessment and risk management, including internal control over financial reporting. As appropriate, the Audit Committee provides reports to and receives direction from the full Board of Directors regarding the Company’s risk management policies and guidelines, as well as the Audit Committee’s risk oversight activities.

How Can Shareholders Communicate with the Board of Directors?

Anyone who has a concern about MEDNAX’s conduct, including accounting, internal controls or audit matters, may communicate directly with our Chairman of the Board of Directors, Lead Independent Director, our non-management Directors, the Chairman of the Audit Committee or the Audit Committee. Such communications may be confidential or anonymous, and may be submitted in writing to the Chief Compliance Officer, MEDNAX, Inc., 1301 Concord Terrace, Sunrise, Florida 33323, or reported by phone at 877-835-5764. Any such concerns will be forwarded to the appropriate Directors for their review, and will be simultaneously reviewed and addressed by the Company’s General Counsel or Chief Compliance Officer in the same way that other concerns are addressed by us. MEDNAX’s Code of Conduct, which is discussed below, prohibits any employee from retaliating or taking any adverse action against anyone for raising or helping to resolve an integrity concern.

Has MEDNAX Adopted a Code of Conduct?

MEDNAX has adopted a Code of Conduct that applies to all Directors, officers, employees and independent contractors of MEDNAX and its affiliated professionals. MEDNAX intends to disclose any amendments to, or waivers from, any provision of the Code of Conduct that applies to any of MEDNAX’s executive officers or Directors by posting such information on its website at www.mednax.com.

MEDNAX has also adopted a Code of Professional Conduct — Finance that applies to all employees with access to, and responsibility for, matters of finance and financial management, including MEDNAX’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and Chief Accounting Officer. MEDNAX intends to disclose any amendments to, or waivers from, any provision of the Code of Professional Conduct — Finance that applies to any of MEDNAX’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, Chief Accounting Officer or persons performing similar functions by posting such information on its website at www.mednax.com.

Copies of our Code of Conduct and the Code of Professional Conduct — Finance are available on our website at www.mednax.com and upon request from MEDNAX’s Secretary at 1301 Concord Terrace, Sunrise, Florida 33323.

Has MEDNAX Adopted a Clawback Policy?

MEDNAX has adopted a Clawback Policy that permits the Company to seek to recover certain amounts of incentive compensation, including both cash and equity, paid to any executive officer (as defined in the

 

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Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) on or after January 1, 2014, if payment of such compensation was based on the achievement of financial results that were subsequently the subject of a restatement of its financial statements due to misconduct, and if the executive engaged in improper conduct that materially contributed to the need for restatement, and a lower amount of incentive compensation would have been earned based on the restated financial results.

Does MEDNAX Require its Executive Officers and Board of Directors to Retain a Certain Amount of MEDNAX Common Stock?

MEDNAX has adopted a Stock Ownership and Retention Policy which requires that each named executive officer and each non-management Director retain MEDNAX common stock worth a certain multiple of annual base salary, or cash retainer, respectively. Details of the policy and the required ownership levels are described in further detail in the “Executive Compensation: Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section of this Proxy Statement.

Has MEDNAX Adopted an Anti-Hedging and Anti-Pledging Policy?

MEDNAX has adopted a policy prohibiting its directors, management, financial and other insiders from engaging in transactions in MEDNAX securities or derivatives of MEDNAX securities that might be considered hedging, or from holding MEDNAX securities in margin accounts or pledging MEDNAX securities as collateral for a loan, unless such person clearly demonstrates the financial capacity to repay the loan without resort to the pledged securities.

Does MEDNAX Have a Director Retirement Age Policy?

MEDNAX has adopted a Director Retirement Age Policy which provides that a Director must retire and may not stand for re-election during the calendar year in which he or she attains age 80. Additionally, no Director may be nominated to a new term if he or she would attain age 80 by the end of the calendar year in which the election is held.

Report of the Audit Committee

The following report of the Audit Committee does not constitute soliciting material and should not be deemed filed or incorporated by reference into any of MEDNAX’s filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate such report by reference.

We act under a written charter that has been adopted by MEDNAX’s Board of Directors. While we have the responsibilities set forth in this charter, it is not our duty to plan or conduct audits or to determine that MEDNAX’s financial statements are complete, accurate or in compliance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). This is the responsibility of MEDNAX’s management and independent auditors.

Our primary function is to assist the Board of Directors in their evaluation and oversight of the integrity of MEDNAX’s financial statements and internal control over financial reporting, the qualifications and independence of MEDNAX’s independent auditors and the performance of MEDNAX’s audit functions. In addition, while we are also responsible for assisting the Board of Directors in their evaluation and oversight of MEDNAX’s compliance with applicable laws and regulations, it is not our duty to assure compliance with such laws and regulations or MEDNAX’s Compliance Plan and related policies. We are also responsible for overseeing, discussing and evaluating MEDNAX’s guidelines, policies and processes with respect to risk assessment and risk management and the steps management has taken to monitor and control risk exposure, and we advise the Board of Directors with respect to such matters, as appropriate.

 

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We also oversee MEDNAX’s auditing, accounting and financial reporting processes generally. Management is responsible for MEDNAX’s financial statements and the financial reporting process, including the system of internal controls. We also review the preparation by management of MEDNAX’s quarterly and annual financial statements. MEDNAX’s independent auditors, who are accountable to us, are responsible for expressing an opinion as to whether the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of MEDNAX in conformity with GAAP. MEDNAX’s independent auditors are also responsible for auditing and reporting on the effective operation of MEDNAX’s internal control over financial reporting. We are responsible for retaining MEDNAX’s independent auditors and maintain sole responsibility for their compensation, oversight and termination. We are also responsible for pre-approving all non-audit services to be provided by the independent auditors, and on an annual basis discussing with the independent auditors all significant relationships they have with MEDNAX to determine their independence.

In fulfilling our oversight role, we met and held discussions with MEDNAX’s management and independent auditors. Management advised us that MEDNAX’s consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP, and we reviewed and discussed the consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017. In addition, we reviewed and discussed the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations section of MEDNAX’s periodic reports, key accounting and reporting issues and the scope, adequacy and assessments of MEDNAX’s internal controls and disclosure controls and procedures with management and MEDNAX’s independent auditors. We discussed privately with the independent auditors matters deemed significant by the independent auditors, including those matters required to be discussed pursuant to U.S. Auditing Standard No. 16 (Communications with Audit Committees), as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

The independent auditors also provided us with the written disclosures and the letter required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, regarding the independent accountant’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and we discussed with the independent auditors matters relating to their independence. We also reviewed a report by the independent auditors describing the firm’s internal quality-control procedures and any material issues raised in the most recent internal-quality control review or external peer review or inspection performed by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

Based on our review with management and the independent auditors of MEDNAX’s audited consolidated financial statements and internal controls over financial reporting and the independent auditors’ report on such financial statements and their evaluation of MEDNAX’s internal controls over financial reporting, and based on the discussions and written disclosures described above and our business judgment, we recommended to the Board of Directors that the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 be included in MEDNAX’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, for filing with the SEC.

Submitted by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.

Paul G. Gabos

Karey D. Barker

Manuel Kadre

Enrique J. Sosa, Ph.D.

 

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DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

MEDNAX’s Directors and Executive Officers

MEDNAX’s Directors and Executive Officers are as follows:

 

Name

   Age     

Position with MEDNAX

Roger J. Medel, M.D. (1)

     71      Chief Executive Officer and Director

Cesar L. Alvarez (1)

     70      Chairman of the Board of Directors

Manuel Kadre (1)(2)(3)

     52      Lead Independent Director

Karey D. Barker (2)

     50      Director

Waldemar A. Carlo, M.D. (3)(4)(5)

     65      Director

Michael B. Fernandez (3)(4)

     65      Director

Paul G. Gabos (1)(2)

     52      Director

Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D. (5)

     63      Director

Enrique J. Sosa, Ph.D. (2)(4)

     78      Director

Joseph M. Calabro

     57      President and Chief Operating Officer

Vivian Lopez-Blanco

     60      Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

David A. Clark

     51      President, MEDNAX National Medical Group

Dominic J. Andreano

     49      Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

John C. Pepia

     55      Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer

 

(1) Member of the Executive Committee.
(2) Member of the Audit Committee.
(3) Member of the Compensation Committee.
(4) Member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
(5) Member of the Medical Science and Technology Committee.

Roger J. Medel, M.D., has been a Director of the Company since he co-founded it in 1979. Dr. Medel served as the Company’s President until May 2000 and as Chief Executive Officer until December 2002. In March 2003, Dr. Medel reassumed the position of President, serving in that position until May 2004, and Chief Executive Officer, a position in which he continues to serve today. Dr. Medel has served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Inc. since January 2016. Dr. Medel was a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Miami from January 2004 to February 2012. Dr. Medel participates as a member of several medical and professional organizations and, from June 2006 to April 2009, served on the Board of Directors of MBF Healthcare Acquisition Corp. The Board of Directors has concluded that Dr. Medel’s qualifications to serve on the Board include his experience as our Chief Executive Officer and founder of the Company and a physician with training and experience in the Company’s historical base service line of neonatology.

Cesar L. Alvarez has been a Director since March 1997 and was elected as Chairman of the Board of Directors in May 2004. Mr. Alvarez is a Senior Chairman of the international law firm of Greenberg Traurig. He previously served as the firm’s Executive Chairman for more than three years and as its Chief Executive Officer for 13 years. Mr. Alvarez also serves on the Board of Directors of Fairholme Funds, Inc., Intrexon Corporation, Sears Holdings Corporation, St. Joe Company and Watsco, Inc. The Board of Directors has concluded that Mr. Alvarez’s qualifications to serve on the Board include his management experience as the current Senior Chairman and as former Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman of one of the nation’s largest law firms with professionals providing services in multiple locations across the country and abroad as well as his many years of corporate governance experience, both counseling and serving on the Boards of Directors of publicly traded and private companies.

Manuel Kadre was elected as a Director in May 2007 and designated as Lead Independent Director in March 2014. Since December 2012, Mr. Kadre has been the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MBB Auto, LLC and also serves as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of many other luxury automobile

 

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dealerships in the Northeast. Mr. Kadre is a partner and director of Gold Coast Restaurants, which is the largest franchisee of TGI Friday’s in the United States. From July 2009 until 2013, Mr. Kadre was the Chief Executive Officer of Gold Coast Caribbean Importers, LLC. From 1995 until July 2009, Mr. Kadre served in various roles, including President, Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of CC1 Companies, Inc., which distributes Coca-Cola and other beverage products in markets throughout the Caribbean. Mr. Kadre has served on the Board of Directors of Republic Services, Inc. since June 2014 and was appointed as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Republic Services, Inc. in February 2017. Mr. Kadre also serves on the Board of Trustees of the University of Miami and on the Board of Governors of University of Miami Hospital. The Board of Directors has concluded that Mr. Kadre’s qualifications to serve on the Board include his experience in acquiring and managing businesses, including those in regulated industries and in government relations, his financial expertise as well as his experience as a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Miami.

Karey D. Barker was elected as a Director in May 2015. Ms. Barker founded Cross Creek Advisors, LLC in 2013 and has served as its Managing Director since that time. Ms. Barker previously served as Managing Director, Venture of Wasatch Advisors, Inc. from 2006 until 2012 and served as a member of its Board of Directors from 1995 until 2012. Ms. Barker also serves as a board observer for several investment companies on behalf of Cross Creek Advisors. The Board of Directors has concluded that Ms. Barker’s qualifications to serve on the Board include her financial expertise and experience in managing venture capital and private equity funds.

Waldemar A. Carlo, M.D., was elected as a Director in June 1999. Dr. Carlo has served as Professor of Pediatrics and Director of the Division of Neonatology at the University of Alabama School of Medicine since 1991. Dr. Carlo participates as a member of several medical and professional organizations. He has received numerous research awards and grants and has lectured extensively, both nationally and internationally. Additionally, Dr. Carlo is a recipient of the Apgar Award, the highest recognition given to neonatologists by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The Board of Directors has concluded that Dr. Carlo’s qualifications to serve on the Board include his experience as a nationally known Professor of Neonatology leading one of the nation’s largest academic neonatal practices as well as his experience performing scientific research and developing and implementing educational programs for physicians.

Michael B. Fernandez was elected as a Director in October 1995. Mr. Fernandez has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MBF Healthcare Partners, L.P., a private equity firm focused on investing in healthcare service companies, since February 2005. He also served as the Chairman of Simply Healthcare Holdings until its acquisition by Anthem, Inc. in February 2015, and Navarro Discount Pharmacies, LLC until its acquisition by CVS Caremark in September 2014. Mr. Fernandez has served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Miami and was on the Board of Directors of various private entities, including Healthcare Atlantic, Inc., a holding company that operates various healthcare entities. The Board of Directors has concluded that Mr. Fernandez’s qualifications to serve on the Board include his experience over many years as a founder, investor and executive in a variety of successful healthcare businesses (including managed care companies), his financial and marketing expertise, as well as his experience as a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Miami.

Paul G. Gabos was elected as a Director in November 2002. Mr. Gabos, who is presently retired, served as Chief Financial Officer of Lincare Holdings Inc. (“Lincare”) from June 1997 until December 2012, after its merger with a subsidiary of Linde AG, and prior thereto served as Vice President — Administration for Lincare. Prior to joining Lincare in 1993, Mr. Gabos worked for Coopers & Lybrand and for Dean Witter Reynolds, Inc. Mr. Gabos currently serves on the Board of Directors of Health Insurance Innovations, Inc. The Board of Directors has concluded that Mr. Gabos’ qualifications to serve on the Board include his management experience as a senior executive and financial expertise as Chief Financial Officer of a publicly traded healthcare services company and prior thereto as an investment banker with a large national firm.

Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., was elected as a Director in March 2006. Dr. Goldschmidt currently serves as a Director and Chief Executive Officer of European Care Global QHCI, Ltd. Dr. Goldschmidt previously served

 

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as the Director of Strategic International Projects and Dean Emeritus at the University of Miami. Dr. Goldschmidt served as the Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs and Dean of the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine from April 2006 until May 2016. Dr. Goldschmidt also served as the Chief Executive Officer of the University of Miami Health System from November 2007 until January 2016. Previously, Dr. Goldschmidt was a faculty member with the Department of Medicine at Duke University Medical Center where he served as Chairman from 2003 to 2006 and as Chief of the Division of Cardiology from 2000 to 2003. Dr. Goldschmidt served on the Board of Directors of Health Management Associates from June 2011 until August 2013 and previously served as a director for Opko Health, Inc. from 2007 until 2011. The Board of Directors has concluded that Dr. Goldschmidt’s qualifications to serve on the Board include his experience as a Chief Executive Officer of a healthcare and hospital system, as Dean of a premier medical school managing physicians and other healthcare professionals, as a physician trained in cardiology, as well as his experience performing scientific research and developing and implementing educational programs for physicians.

Enrique J. Sosa, Ph.D., was elected as a Director in May 2004. Dr. Sosa, who is presently retired, served as President of BP Amoco Chemicals from January 1999 to April 1999. From 1995 to 1998, he was Executive Vice President of Amoco Corporation. Prior to joining Amoco, Dr. Sosa served as Senior Vice President of The Dow Chemical Company, President of Dow North America and a member of its Board of Directors. Dr. Sosa was a director of FMC Corporation from June 1999 until April 2012 and a director of Northern Trust Corporation from April 2007 until April 2012. The Board of Directors has concluded that Dr. Sosa’s qualifications to serve on the Board include his management and financial expertise as a former executive officer of large international industrial businesses, his many years of experience with corporate governance, and his service on the Boards of Directors of other publicly traded companies.

Joseph M. Calabro joined the Company in January 1996 as Chief Information Officer. In January 2000, Mr. Calabro was appointed Executive Vice President, Management, in May 2000, he was appointed Chief Operating Officer, and in May 2004, he was appointed President. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Calabro served as Director of Information Technology for the Ambulatory Surgery Group of Columbia/HCA. He served in various operational and technology positions for various healthcare companies from 1987 to 1994.

Vivian Lopez-Blanco joined the Company in May 2008 as Vice President and Treasurer and was appointed Chief Financial Officer in January 2010. Prior to joining the Company, from 2003 to 2008, Ms. Lopez-Blanco served as Chief Financial Officer of Carrols Corporation’s Hispanic Restaurants Division, which includes the Pollo Tropical and Taco Cabana concepts. Ms. Lopez-Blanco joined Pollo Tropical in 1997 as Controller, was promoted to Chief Financial Officer in 1998 and led the Company through its acquisition by Carrols. Prior to Pollo Tropical, Ms. Lopez-Blanco served in a variety of positions with an international accounting firm. Ms. Lopez-Blanco is a certified public accountant.

David A. Clark joined the Company in May 2001 and became President of our Mednax National Medical Group in January 2017. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Clark served as President of our Western Division since June 2015. Mr. Clark previously served as Chief Operating Officer of our Pediatrix Division from August 2008 until April 2015, with executive officer responsibilities beginning January 1, 2009. Mr. Clark served as Senior Vice President, Operations from December 2003 until August 2008, and as Vice President of Operations, South Central Region from November 2001 to November 2003. From June 2000 to October 2001, Mr. Clark was Vice President of Operations for Magella Healthcare, which we acquired in 2001, and prior thereto he was Vice President of Business Development for Magella Healthcare. Mr. Clark is a certified public accountant.

Dominic J. Andreano joined the Company in September 2001 and was appointed Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary in May 2012. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Andreano previously served as Deputy General Counsel for the Company from January 2009 until May 2012, as Associate General Counsel for the Company from January 2004 until December 2008, and prior thereto as Director, Business Development. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Andreano was an associate in the corporate securities department of Holland & Knight, LLP in Miami from June 2000 until September 2001, and an associate in the healthcare corporate department of Greenberg Traurig, P.A. in Miami from September 1997 until June 2000.

 

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John C. Pepia joined the Company in February 2002 and served as Vice President, Accounting and Finance until May 2016, at which time Mr. Pepia was appointed Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer. The Board of Directors appointed Mr. Pepia Principal Accounting Officer in August 2016. Prior to joining the Company, from 1996 to 2002, Mr. Pepia held several Vice President of Accounting & Finance positions at ANC Rental Corporation. He served in various financial positions in several public and private companies from 1985 to 1996.

Committees of the Board of Directors

Audit Committee

MEDNAX’s Audit Committee held seven meetings in 2017. Messrs. Gabos and Kadre, Dr. Sosa and Ms. Barker were members of the committee throughout 2017. Mr. Gabos acted as chair of the committee throughout 2017. MEDNAX’s Board of Directors has determined that each of Messrs. Gabos and Kadre, Dr. Sosa and Ms. Barker qualify as “audit committee financial experts” as defined by the rules and regulations of the SEC and that each of Messrs. Gabos and Kadre, and Dr. Sosa and Ms. Barker meet the independence requirements under such rules and regulations and for a New York Stock Exchange listed company.

MEDNAX’s Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee setting out the functions that it is to perform. A copy of the Audit Committee Charter is available on our Website at www.mednax.com.

Please refer to the Report of the Audit Committee, which is set forth above, for a further description of our Audit Committee’s responsibilities and its recommendation with respect to our audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Compensation Committee

MEDNAX’s Compensation Committee held six meetings in 2017, and took various other actions via unanimous written consent. Messrs. Kadre and Fernandez and Dr. Carlo were members of the committee throughout 2017. Mr. Kadre acted as chair of the committee throughout 2017. MEDNAX’s Board of Directors has determined that each of Messrs. Kadre and Fernandez and Dr. Carlo meet the independence requirements for a New York Stock Exchange listed company.

MEDNAX’s Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Compensation Committee setting out the functions that it is to perform. A copy of the Compensation Committee Charter is available on our Website at www.mednax.com.

The primary purpose of MEDNAX’s Compensation Committee is to assist MEDNAX’s Board of Directors in the discharge of the Board of Directors’ responsibilities relating to compensation of executives. The scope of authority of MEDNAX’s Compensation Committee includes the following:

 

   

Evaluating the performance of and setting the compensation for MEDNAX’s Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers;

 

   

Supervising and making recommendations to MEDNAX’s Board of Directors with respect to incentive compensation plans and equity-based plans for executive officers;

 

   

Overseeing the review of the Company’s incentive compensation arrangements to determine whether they encourage excessive risk-taking, including discussing at least annually the relationship between risk management policies and practices and compensation and considering, as appropriate, compensation policies and practices that could mitigate any such risk;

 

   

Evaluating whether or not to engage, retain, or terminate an outside consulting firm for the review and evaluation of MEDNAX’s compensation plans and approving such outside consulting firm’s fees and other retention terms; and

 

   

Conducting an annual self-assessment of the Compensation Committee.

 

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Upon a determination of MEDNAX’s full Compensation Committee membership, matters may be delegated to a subcommittee for evaluation and recommendation back to the full committee. For a description of the role performed by executive officers and compensation consultants in determining or recommending the amount or form of executive and Director compensation, see “Executive Compensation: Compensation Discussion and Analysis — How Pay Decisions are Made.”

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

MEDNAX’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee held one meeting in 2017, and took various other actions via unanimous written consent. Drs. Carlo and Sosa and Mr. Fernandez were members of the committee throughout 2017. Dr. Carlo served as chairman of the committee throughout 2017. MEDNAX’s Board of Directors has determined that each of Drs. Carlo and Sosa and Mr. Fernandez meet the independence requirements for a New York Stock Exchange listed company.

MEDNAX’s Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee setting out the functions that it is to perform. A copy of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Charter is available on our website at www.mednax.com.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee assists the Board of Directors with respect to nominating new Directors and committee members and taking a leadership role in shaping the corporate governance of MEDNAX. To fulfill its responsibilities and duties, the committee, among other things, reviews the qualifications and independence of existing Directors and new candidates; assesses the contributions of current Directors; identifies and recommends individuals qualified to be appointed to committees of the Board of Directors; considers rotation of committee members; reviews the charters of the committees and makes recommendations to the full Board of Directors with respect thereto; develops and recommends to the Board of Directors corporate governance principles, including a code of business conduct; and evaluates and recommends succession plans for MEDNAX’s Chief Executive Officer and other senior executives.

Although the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee does not solicit director nominations, the committee will consider candidates suggested by shareholders in written submissions to MEDNAX’s Secretary in accordance with the procedures described below in the section entitled “Information Concerning Shareholder Proposals.” In evaluating nominees for Director, the committee does not differentiate between nominees recommended by shareholders and others. In identifying and evaluating candidates to be nominated for Director, the committee reviews the desired experience, mix of skills and other qualities required for appropriate Board composition, taking into account the current Board members and the specific needs of MEDNAX and its Board of Directors. Although the committee does not have a formal policy with regard to the consideration of diversity in identifying Director nominees, the committee’s review process is designed so that the Board of Directors includes members with diverse backgrounds, skills and experience, and represents appropriate financial, clinical and other expertise relevant to the business of MEDNAX. At a minimum, Director candidates must meet the following qualifications: high personal and professional ethics, integrity and values and a commitment to the representation of the long-term interests of our shareholders. Although the committee’s charter permits the committee to engage a search firm to identify Director candidates, MEDNAX did not pay any fees to third parties to assist in the process of identifying or evaluating Director candidates in 2017.

Risk Considerations in Our Compensation Programs

The Company has reviewed its compensation structures and policies as they pertain to risk and has determined that its compensation programs do not create or encourage the taking of risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

 

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Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions

Review and Approval of Related Person Transactions

MEDNAX has a written policy for the review and approval or ratification of transactions (i) between MEDNAX and any MEDNAX Director or any other entity in which any MEDNAX Director is a director, officer or has a financial interest; and (ii) in which MEDNAX is or will be a participant and any related person has or will have a direct or indirect material interest. For purposes of the policy, a related person includes any MEDNAX Director or Director nominee, executive officer or holder of more than 5% of the outstanding voting stock of MEDNAX or any of their respective immediate family members. The policy does not apply to transactions pertaining to (i) director or officer compensation that is approved or recommended to MEDNAX’s Board of Directors for approval by MEDNAX’s Compensation Committee or (ii) the employment by MEDNAX of any immediate family member of a related person in a non-officer position and at compensation levels commensurate with that paid to other similarly situated employees.

Pursuant to the terms of the policy, all covered transactions, if determined to be material by MEDNAX’s General Counsel or if the transaction involves the participation of a member of the MEDNAX Board of Directors, are required to be promptly referred to the disinterested members of the MEDNAX Audit Committee for their review or, if less than a majority of the members of MEDNAX Audit Committee are disinterested, to all the disinterested members of the MEDNAX Board of Directors. Pursuant to the terms of the policy, materiality determinations must be based on the significance of the information to investors in light of all circumstances, including, but not limited to, the (i) relationship of the related persons to the covered transaction, and with each other, (ii) importance to the person having the interest, and (iii) amount involved in the transaction. All transactions involving in excess of $120,000 are automatically deemed to be material pursuant to the terms of the policy.

The disinterested Directors of MEDNAX’s Audit Committee or Board of Directors, as applicable, are required to review such material covered transactions at their next regularly-scheduled meeting, or earlier if a special meeting is called by the Chairman of the Audit Committee and may only approve such a material covered transaction if it has been entered into in good faith and on fair and reasonable terms that are no less favorable to MEDNAX than those that would be available to MEDNAX in a comparable transaction in arm’s length dealings with an unrelated third party at the time it is considered by the disinterested Directors of MEDNAX’s Audit Committee or Board of Directors, as applicable.

All of the transactions described in “Transactions with Related Persons” below were covered transactions under our policy and the policies and procedures required by the policy were followed in connection with the review and approval or ratification of all of such transactions.

Transactions with Related Persons

Mr. Alvarez has served on MEDNAX’s Board of Directors since March 1997. Mr. Alvarez is the Senior Chairman of Greenberg Traurig, P.A., which serves as one of MEDNAX’s outside counsels and receives customary fees for legal services. In 2017, MEDNAX paid Greenberg Traurig, P.A. approximately $1,348,000 for such services and currently anticipates that this relationship will continue. Mr. Alvarez does not personally provide legal services to MEDNAX and derives no direct personal benefit from MEDNAX’s payment for legal services to Greenberg Traurig, P.A. Further, the fees derived from MEDNAX represent an immaterial portion of the overall revenue generated by Greenberg Traurig, P.A.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

In 2017, none of our executive officers or Directors was a member of the Board of Directors of any other company where the relationship would be considered a compensation committee interlock under the SEC rules.

 

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION: COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS (“CD&A”)

SECTION I: A MESSAGE TO OUR SHAREHOLDERS

Dear MEDNAX Shareholders,

The principal responsibility of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (“the Compensation Committee”) is to ensure that we have an executive compensation program in place that attracts and retains the best executive workforce in our industry. We believe that having the highest-quality, most-experienced leadership team in place is critical to our mission: “Take great care of the patient, every day and in every way.”® We also recognize that to best serve our patients and shareholders, we must also fulfill our responsibility to “Take great care of the business.” Our executive officer compensation program is designed to ensure that we accomplish our mission while delivering value to our shareholders.

The healthcare and economic landscapes continue to change, and we are extremely fortunate to have one of the longest-serving leadership teams in our industry navigating MEDNAX through these changes. In 2017, MEDNAX further expanded upon its diversified portfolio of services, which consists of neonatal and pediatric care, anesthesia solutions, radiology and telemedicine, as well as a management services organization and other consulting services. During 2017, MEDNAX’s financial results reflected a challenging healthcare environment, with earnings declining from the previous year due to unexpected changes in payor mix, reduced patient volumes and increased pressures on practitioner compensation in critical markets. Company leadership responded to these challenges by introducing cost reduction initiatives while also maintaining a disciplined approach in executing our acquisition strategy.

Despite progress in many areas and continued service excellence, the Compensation Committee affirmed its pay-for-performance principles by authorizing no bonus payment for the CEO, COO and CFO for 2017, which followed a 29% of target payout for 2016 results. Bonuses for other executive officers were approved at levels below target, consistent with bonuses paid to other bonus-eligible salaried employees.

Recognizing the importance of retaining leadership and motivating them to continue execution of the company’s strategy, the Compensation Committee established performance goals for the 2017 performance share grants that were considered challenging but achievable in light of the uncertainty relating to various drivers of our financial results. The Committee also eliminated the “retesting” feature that had been included in prior performance share grants. The establishment of goals for these 2017 performance share grants considered the low bonus payout for 2016, the anticipated low payout (if any) for 2017 and the below target number of performance shares earned from the 2016 equity grants.

In addition, the Compensation Committee updated its market-based evaluation of compensation for all executive officers, and responded to this analysis by authorizing supplemental grants of restricted stock to certain executive officers to ensure that their total compensation was market competitive and to enhance retention of these key individuals.

Beginning on the next page of this Proxy Statement, we present specific information about the compensation paid to our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and other Named Executive Officers (“NEOs”) for 2017. We have provided information regarding how our executive compensation program works and the decisions made about pay, as well as how those decisions were made. Making sure you understand the rationale for our decisions is a top priority, as ongoing support for the executive compensation program is critical to our overall success.

Finally, we want to thank you for making MEDNAX part of your investment portfolio. You can be confident in our commitment to deliver exceptional performance that drives shareholder value over the long-term and quality care for the patients that depend on MEDNAX.

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Manuel Kadre

Compensation Committee Chairman

Lead Independent Director

 

 

Compensation Committee Report

The Compensation Committee determines the compensation for our CEO and other NEOs and oversees the administration of our executive compensation program. The Compensation Committee is composed entirely of independent Directors and is advised as necessary by independent consultants and legal counsel. Our CEO provides advice and recommendations to the Compensation Committee with respect to the compensation of other senior executive officers. Under the rules of the SEC, our NEOs for 2017 are:

 

   

Roger J. Medel, M.D., Chief Executive Officer

 

   

Vivian Lopez-Blanco, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

   

Joseph M. Calabro, President and Chief Operating Officer

 

   

David A. Clark, President, MEDNAX National Medical Group

 

   

Dominic J. Andreano, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

In fulfilling our role, we met and held discussions with the Company’s management and reviewed and discussed this CD&A. Based on our review and such discussions, we recommended to the Board of Directors that the CD&A be included in this Proxy Statement.

Submitted by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors:

Manuel Kadre

Waldemar A. Carlo, M.D.

Michael B. Fernandez

This Compensation Committee Report does not constitute soliciting material and should not be deemed filed or incorporated by reference into any of MEDNAX’s filings under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate such report by reference.

 

 

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SECTION II: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

2017 Business Highlights

Stability and building long-term value are at the core of everything we do. Our unique healthcare model has been in place for over 35 years, allowing us to focus on what is most important in our industry — taking great care of our patients and improving patient outcomes. In 2017, we continued to position ourselves for the future of healthcare by concentrating on our long-term growth strategy. We remained disciplined in our spending, highly-selective in our acquisitions and responsive to the changing healthcare landscape. We were challenged in 2017 by unexpected changes in payor mix, reduced patient volumes and increased pressures on practitioner compensation in critical markets. Key financial results for the last three fiscal years, including the impact of the challenges we faced in 2017, are highlighted below:

 

LOGO

Earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) is a non-GAAP financial measure. For a description of the rationale for our presentation of EBITDA and a reconciliation of EBITDA to net income, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, please see the disclosure under the caption “Non-GAAP Measures” beginning on page 53 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, filed with the SEC on February 14, 2018.

Our proven track record is also validated by the growth of our diluted earnings per share and annual cash flow from operations over the last 10 years.

 

LOGO   LOGO
LOGO   LOGO

Note: All share and per share amounts for all periods presented and discussed in this Proxy Statement reflect the two-for-one stock split effected in 2013.

 

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Response to Say-on-Pay Vote and Shareholder Outreach

Each year, we provide our shareholders with the opportunity to approve, or vote against, the compensation of our NEOs (“say-on-pay”). We are committed to ensuring that our investors fully understand our executive compensation program, including how it aligns the interests of our executives with our shareholders and how it rewards the achievement of our strategic objectives. We believe that the continued delivery of sustainable long-term value to our shareholders requires regular dialogue. To this end, we regularly make efforts to engage in discussions with our shareholders in order to obtain a deeper understanding of our investors’ views regarding our compensation program and other important topics, including company performance and operations, strategic direction, risk and operational oversight and leadership, among other matters. Outside of formal engagement efforts, we interact throughout the year with our shareholders and make ourselves available to them at their request. During 2017, we met with over 45% of our active shareholders on over 70 occasions throughout the year during industry conferences, in meetings at our offices or at the offices of our shareholders and through conference telephone calls.

In response to feedback from our shareholders, we made significant changes to our executive compensation program in 2014, including changes to our equity award program and the adoption of certain corporate governance policies, which remained in effect since that time and for 2017. These changes are described in detail in this CD&A. We are pleased that at our 2017 annual meeting of shareholders, the compensation of our NEOs was approved by more than 88% of shares that voted on the matter.

CEO Pay At-A-Glance

The significant majority (approximately 88%) of our CEO’s target direct compensation (sum of base salary, target bonus and grant value of stock awards, including performance shares at target) is variable and linked to financial performance results. Dr. Medel’s target total compensation of $8,650,000 has not been increased since 2012. The chart shows the elements of actual CEO total direct compensation awarded to Dr. Medel for 2016 performance, as compared to the prior year. The chart below also reflects the currently anticipated target total direct compensation for 2017; the actual value of the June 1, 2017 award of performance shares and restricted stock granted to Dr. Medel and our other NEOs is not known as of the date of this Proxy Statement because the performance period for such awards will initially be measured over a one-year period from April 1, 2017 through March 31, 2018. For more information on the performance share awards and restricted stock awards for 2017, please see the section below entitled 2017 Equity-Based Awards.

 

Measuring Pay-for-Performance at MEDNAX

In the healthcare services industry, company stock prices at any point in time can be significantly affected by changes (actual or anticipated) in the regulatory environment. Additionally, regulatory changes affect different healthcare companies in varying ways. For MEDNAX specifically, factors such as timing, size and type of acquisitions, effects of the continued diversification of our services, effects of same-unit volume and reimbursement-related factors, including payor mix shifts, are often unpredictable.

For these reasons, we do not use relative total shareholder return as a key performance metric in our program. Instead, our performance goals are focused on internal key financial metrics that drive long-term value creation, such as revenue and profitability. Our past financial performance demonstrates, and we fully expect, that meeting these metrics will over time translate into increased shareholder value. For equity-based awards, our share price ultimately should reflect whether we have executed this strategy successfully and the three-year vesting schedule for equity grants ensures our officers maintain a long-term perspective. A look at our historical stock prices over the last 10 years shows a growth rate of 57%, from a stock price of $34.08 on December 31, 2007, to $53.44 on December 31, 2017, after giving effect to stock splits during this period. This growth demonstrates that the achievement of the performance goals set over this period resulted in creation of long-term value for shareholders.

For many of these same reasons, we do not incorporate financial goals over a multi-year period (such as cumulative earnings over three years) into our officer compensation program. Our long-term strategy emphasizes continued growth through a disciplined approach in acquiring established physician practices in our specialties, and any multi-year goals would necessarily need to reflect assumptions and projections about both the level and type of acquisitions made during the measurement period. We believe, however, that the multi-year vesting of our equity awards effectively encourages long-term growth and performance.

The Compensation Committee believes that this approach is in the best interests of all of MEDNAX’s constituents. Of course, we will continue to refine our approach as the healthcare landscape continues to evolve.

 

 

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LOGO

 

1 

Represents performance shares earned in excess of target due to achievement of performance conditions above target.

2 

Represents performance shares earned below target due to achievement of performance conditions below target. Performance shares granted in 2016 were earned at 62.75% of target.

3 

Represents the grant-date fair value of the target equity-based awards for which the underlying measurement period has not yet lapsed. See Note 1 to the Summary Compensation Table.

4 

Actual

Despite the company’s continued growth, since 2011, Dr. Medel’s salary has been $1,000,000 and his target bonus opportunity has been 150% of salary. His average bonus paid over the last ten years has been approximately 135% of salary or 90% of target. Dr. Medel’s bonus exceeded 170% of salary in only two out of those 10 years. The updated market analysis conducted during 2017 found that the median peer target bonus for chief executive officers was 125% of salary. That same analysis found that over the 2011-2016 period, the actual peer CEO bonus was 130% of salary at the median and 176% of salary at the 75th percentile. In October 2017, Dr. Medel agreed to a three-year extension of his Employment Agreement, with no changes to his compensation.

SECTION III: OVERVIEW OF THE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION PROGRAM

The Guiding Principles of Our Pay Philosophy

The Compensation Committee has designed our executive compensation program with the following guiding principles in mind:

 

   

Quality of Personnel and Competitiveness. We are committed to employing the highest quality executive team in the healthcare services industry. We expect our executives to be of the highest caliber in terms of business acumen and integrity. We closely analyze and understand compensation for executives at similarly situated companies to help ensure we can effectively compete for and retain key talent.

 

   

Alignment of Interests. We must offer a total executive compensation package that best supports our leadership talent and growth strategies and focuses executives on financial and operational results. We use a mix of fixed and variable (at-risk) pay to support these objectives, by giving our executives a substantial equity stake in the business and rewarding them for performance that drives shareholder value over the long term.

 

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Compliance with Regulatory Guidelines and Sensible Standards of Corporate Governance. We comply with applicable laws, rules, statutes, regulations and guidelines and monitor our compensation program on an ongoing basis to ensure it abides by applicable requirements. Specifically, we focus on relevant considerations in the areas of accounting cost, tax impact, cash flow constraints, risk management and other sensible standards of good corporate governance.

Elements of Pay

Our pay philosophy is supported by the following pay elements in our executive compensation program:

 

Element   Form   Purpose
Base Salary   Cash (Fixed)   Provides a competitive level of pay that reflects the executive’s experience, role and responsibilities and performance
Annual Bonus   Cash (Variable)   Rewards executives for achieving income from operations goals in the most recent performance year
Long-Term Incentives   Equity (Variable)   Provide meaningful incentives for management to execute on longer-term financial and strategic growth goals that drive shareholder value creation and support the Company’s retention strategy

Pay Mix

The charts below show that most of our NEOs’ total direct compensation is variable (86% for the CEO and an average of 81% for our other NEOs) based upon actual awarded and anticipated 2017 compensation:

 

LOGO

How Pay Decisions Are Made

The Compensation Committee, composed solely of independent Directors, is responsible for making pay decisions for the NEOs. The Compensation Committee works very closely with its independent consultant, which for 2017 was Willis Towers Watson & Co. (“Willis Towers Watson”), and management to examine pay and performance matters throughout the year. The Compensation Committee held six meetings over the course of 2017, and took various other actions via unanimous written consent. The Compensation Committee’s written charter can be accessed on the MEDNAX website at www.mednax.com.

 

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The Role of the Compensation Committee and Management

The primary role of the Compensation Committee is to assist MEDNAX’s Board of Directors in the discharge of the Board’s responsibilities related to executive compensation matters. The Compensation Committee’s responsibilities include:

 

   

Evaluating the performance of and setting pay for the CEO and other NEOs;

 

   

Supervising and making recommendations to the Board of Directors about changes to the executive compensation program;

 

   

Overseeing the annual review of the Company’s incentive compensation elements to determine whether they encourage excessive risk taking, including discussing the relationship between risk management policies and practices and pay;

 

   

Evaluating whether or not to engage, retain, or terminate an outside consulting firm for the review and evaluation of MEDNAX’s executive compensation program and approving such outside consulting firm’s fees and other retention terms; and

 

   

Conducting an annual self-assessment of the Compensation Committee’s performance.

The CEO does not play any role in the Compensation Committee’s determination of his own pay; however, the Compensation Committee solicits input from the CEO concerning the performance and compensation of the other NEOs. The CEO bases his recommendations on his assessment of each individual’s performance, tenure and experience in the role, external market pay practices, retention risk and MEDNAX’s overall pay philosophy.

The Role of Independent Consultants

The Compensation Committee continually reviews executive compensation to ensure that it reflects our pay philosophy and, as necessary, retains the services of an independent consultant to assist in such review. During 2017, the Compensation Committee retained Willis Towers Watson to provide data and analysis with respect to the compensation paid to our NEOs. The Compensation Committee has assessed the independence of Willis Towers Watson pursuant to applicable SEC rules, New York Stock Exchange listing standards and its own committee charter and concluded that no conflict of interest exists that would prevent Willis Towers Watson from independently advising the Compensation Committee.

Assessing External Market Practice

As part of our pay philosophy, our executive compensation program is designed to attract, motivate and retain our executives in an increasingly competitive and complex talent market. To this end, we regularly evaluate industry-specific and general market compensation practices and trends to ensure that our program features and NEO pay opportunities remain appropriately competitive. The Compensation Committee considers publicly available data, provided by its independent compensation consultant, for informational purposes when making its pay decisions. However, market data are not the sole determinants of the Company’s practices or executive pay levels. When determining salaries, target bonus opportunities and annual equity grants for NEOs, the Compensation Committee also considers the performance of the Company and the individual, the nature of an individual’s role within the Company, internal comparisons to the compensation of other Company officers, tenure with the Company and experience in the officer’s current role.

 

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During 2016, the Compensation Committee reviewed CEO compensation information from a group of 16 publicly traded healthcare services companies. The companies included in the analysis were recommended by the Committee’s consultant and approved by the Committee. During the fall of 2017, the consultant updated the peer analysis for the CEO position as well as for the Company’s other NEOs. The companies included in our peer group were as follows:

 

•   Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc.

  

•   Envision Healthcare Corporation

  

•   Select Medical Corporation

•   Amedisys, Inc.

  

•   HealthSouth Corporation

  

•   Team Health Holdings, Inc.**

•   AmSurg Corp.*

  

•   Kindred Healthcare, Inc.

  

•   Tenet Healthcare Corporation

•   Brookdale Senior Living Inc.

  

•   Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings

  

•   Universal Health Services, Inc.

•   Chemed Corporation

  

•   LifePoint Hospitals, Inc.

    

•   DaVita Inc.

  

•   Magellan Health Services, Inc.

    
* AmSurg and Envision Healthcare merged in late 2016. Both companies were included in the 2016 survey, but only the combined company (Envision Healthcare) was included in the 2017 study.
** Team Health was taken private in late 2016, and was therefore not included in the 2017 study.

In determining the peer group for the studies, the Compensation Committee considered a variety of factors including revenue, income from operations, net income, market capitalization and enterprise value. Based on the advice of its consultant, the Compensation Committee established that top executive pay levels at publicly-traded companies in the healthcare services industry were more closely correlated to factors other than revenue. As such, the peer group was determined with an objective of placing MEDNAX near the median for both income from operations and enterprise value. Given MEDNAX’s profitability, this meant that MEDNAX would rank in the lower quartile of its peers in terms of revenue and in the upper quartile of its peers in terms of net income and market capitalization.

An updated analysis of the remaining peer companies showed that as of year-end 2016, MEDNAX ranked near the peer 25th percentile in terms of revenue, at the peer 57th percentile in terms of operating income, near the peer 80th percentile in terms of net income, near the peer 60th percentile in terms of enterprise value and near the peer 70th percentile in terms of market capitalization. MEDNAX also ranked between the peer 35th and 50th percentiles for three-year growth rates in revenues, income from operations and net income , and above the peer median for annualized total shareholder return over the past three and five year periods. Data from the updated peer analysis are summarized in the tables below:

 

      Revenue   Income From
Operations(1)
  Net
Income(1)
  Market
Capitalization(2)
  Enterprise
Value(3)

75th Percentile

   $8,283.4   $964.8   $291.6   $7,345.0   $15,147.6

Median

   $4,239.4   $445.1   $108.7   $3,547.7   $6,955.8

25th Percentile

   $3,414.6   $292.9   -$10.8   $2,216.7   $4,473.7

MEDNAX, Inc.

   $3,183.2   $571.7   $336.3   $6,472.4   $8,111.1

MEDNAX, Inc.

PERCENTILE RANK

   21%   57%   79%   71%   57%
(1) Peer companies with an operating loss or net loss in either the base year or the most current year were assumed to rank at the bottom.
(2) Market capitalization calculated as of February 2017.
(3) Enterprise value is equal to market capitalization value plus net debt as reported for year-end 2016.

 

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      3-Year Compound Annual Growth  Rates   Annualized Total Shareholder
           Return
     Revenue   Income From
Operations
  Net
Income
  3-year   5-year

75th Percentile

   19.3%   23.9%   11.7%   9.8%   22.3%

Median

   14.8%   12.2%   7.3%   5.8%   12.1%

25th Percentile

   10.4%   6.6%   -3.4%   -13.6%   8.5%

MEDNAX, Inc.

   13.9%   8.1%   6.2%   7.7%   13.1%

MEDNAX, Inc.

PERCENTILE RANK

   43%   36%   45%   57%   54%

The Compensation Committee reviews a variety of other areas including key incentive design features, equity grant programs, historical CEO bonus payout levels, stock ownership policies, Board of Directors compensation and other policies relating to officer and Board member compensation from time to time relative to MEDNAX’s peers. In addition, the Compensation Committee periodically reviews information relating to NEO compensation practices as developed from companies considered to be MEDNAX peers by proxy advisory firms. However, since some of these advisory firms determine peers based primarily on comparable revenue, the Compensation Committee has not used information from these companies in evaluating NEO salaries, bonus opportunities and annual equity-based award values. The Compensation Committee believes that information from the peer group it has selected is more relevant.

SECTION IV: THE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION PROGRAM IN DETAIL

Base Salary

The Compensation Committee reviews and approves base salary levels at the beginning of each year. Base salary decisions generally reflect the Compensation Committee’s consideration of the external market practices of our peer group for comparable positions, published survey data, and subjective factors including the individual’s experience, role, responsibilities and performance.

2017 Base Salary Decisions

The 2017 base salaries for the NEOs were as follows:

 

NEO   2017 Base Salary

Roger J. Medel, M.D.

  $1,000,000

Vivian Lopez-Blanco

  $475,000

Joseph M. Calabro

  $600,000

David A. Clark

  $450,000

Dominic J. Andreano

  $350,000

 

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Annual Bonuses

The Company’s NEOs participate in an annual bonus program, which is administered under the shareholder-approved MEDNAX, Inc. Amended and Restated 2008 Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended. The annual bonus is designed to recognize performance achievements primarily focused on growth in our Company’s results of operations during its fiscal year.

The Compensation Committee uses guidelines and may apply either positive or negative discretion to adjust the bonuses based on the actual level of income from operations achieved, as well as other performance goals established for individual NEOs. In addition, the Compensation Committee uses a performance range at the target bonus level to minimize the variability of potential payouts. The bonus adjustment guidelines established for 2017 were as follows:

 

Income From Operations:
Performance Goals
   % of Target  Bonus
Payout

Less than $571,700,000

   0%

$571,700,000

   25%

$579,300,000

   50%

$586,900,000

   75%

$603,500,000-619,500,000

   100%

$626,500,000

   125%

$633,000,000

   150%

$639,500,000

   175%

$646,500,000

   200%
Income from  operations in 2017 was $480,076,000

Actual target bonus payout percentages increase proportionately between each percentage amount based on the actual income from operations achieved by the Company.

 

 

Why We Use Income From Operations

The Compensation Committee uses income from operations as its primary performance measure for annual bonuses and has for several years. This measure is used to encourage our NEOs to focus on efficiently managing our business and to execute on our acquisition growth strategy. Each year, the goal is set to exceed the prior year’s results; we strive to set financial targets that are both challenging and realistic. Since this approach was first implemented a decade ago, actual bonus payouts for NEOs have averaged slightly below target, while income from operations growth rates have consistently exceeded those of our peer group. In the last 10 years, bonus payouts have been less than 100% of the targets four times and have exceeded 120% of the targets twice.

The income from operations goal and maximum bonus award opportunities are also designed to satisfy the requirements of §162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

2017 Annual Bonus Decisions

The Compensation Committee establishes each NEO’s maximum annual bonus opportunity as a percentage of base salary in effect at the beginning of the year. The target bonus opportunity for each NEO is equal to 50% of the NEO’s maximum bonus opportunity. The Committee, consistent with historical practice, established the minimum income from operations goal at a level equal to the income from operations achieved by the Company in the prior year. By the middle of the second quarter of 2017, it became clear that due to the various financial challenges the Company faced, the minimum income from operations level necessary for Dr. Medel, Mr. Calabro and Ms. Lopez-Blanco to earn a bonus was unlikely to be achieved. The Compensation Committee considered the adoption of a supplemental bonus program designed to motivate and incentivize the executive team to achieve incrementally higher income from operations in the second half of 2017. However, the Compensation Committee ultimately decided to maintain the original bonus plan for 2017. The Compensation Committee determined that the Company’s 2017 income from operations corresponded to a payment of 0% of the target bonus payment under the bonus guidelines for each of Dr. Medel, Ms. Lopez-Blanco and Mr. Calabro.

For 2017, the Chief Executive Officer and the President and Chief Operating Officer recommended and the Compensation Committee approved, the annual bonuses for Mr. Clark and Mr. Andreano that were consistent with those being paid to bonus-eligible employees, other than Dr. Medel, Ms. Lopez-Blanco and Mr. Calabro. The recommendations considered the financial performance results of the Company in 2017, the operating performance of the Company’s MEDNAX National Medical Group (in the case of Mr. Clark), the performance of the Company’s General Counsel’s office and legal function (in the case of Mr. Andreano), and the individual contributions of Mr. Clark and Mr. Andreano to the Company in 2017. The recommendations also took into account the updated market compensation references for Messrs. Clark’s and Andreano’s positions, noting that Messrs. Clark and Andreano’s base salaries were below the market median. In considering these factors, the Chief Executive Officer and the President and Chief Operating Officer recommended to the Compensation Committee that Mr. Clark and Mr. Andreano should each receive 75% of his target bonus opportunity, similar

 

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to other bonus-eligible employees who earned 75% of their target bonuses based on their individual, departmental and Company performance. The Compensation Committee agreed with the recommendations and approved the bonuses for Messrs. Clark and Andreano.

 

 

Name

     Maximum Annual  
Bonus as a % of
Base Salary
   Target Annual
  Bonus as a % of  
Base Salary
   Actual Annual
  Bonus as a % of   
  Target
   Actual Bonus
($)

Dr. Medel

   300%    150%    0%    —  

Ms. Lopez-Blanco

   200%    100%    0%    —  

Mr. Calabro

   200%    100%    0%    —  

Mr. Clark

   200%    100%    75%    $337,500

Mr. Andreano

   150%    75%    75%    $196,875

Equity-Based Awards

2017 Equity-Based Awards

The Compensation Committee approved the June 1, 2017 equity-based awards outlined below in May 2017. These equity-based awards were divided equally into performance share awards and time-based restricted stock awards for each of Dr. Medel, Ms. Lopez-Blanco and Mr. Calabro. The equity grant values for Dr. Medel, Ms. Lopez-Blanco and Mr. Calabro remained the same in 2017 as they were in 2016. The actual number of shares earned from the June 1, 2017 award of restricted stock and performance shares granted to Dr. Medel, Ms. Lopez-Blanco and Mr. Calabro has not been determined as of the date of this Proxy Statement because the performance period for such awards will initially be measured over a one-year period from April 1, 2017 through March 31, 2018. Messrs. Clark and Andreano’s equity-based awards granted in 2017 are subject only to the 162(m) goal and time-based vesting requirements. In 2018, Messrs. Clark and Andreano were awarded performance shares subject to the same performance metrics as our other NEOs.

50% of the equity-based award is granted in performance shares that:

 

 

Use two metrics:

 

Shares are earned based on the achievement of net revenue and EBITDA goals, both of which we believe drive shareholder value creation. In particular, EBITDA is a key driver of market capitalization value and EBITDA is linked to shareholder returns.

  

 

Have rigorous performance goals:

 

A target award for each metric will be earned if net revenue or EBITDA growth equals or exceeds 2% and -12.9%, respectively. NEOs may receive an above-target award for each metric only if growth in net revenue or EBITDA exceeds 11% and 2.5%, respectively. These goals vary year-to-year, based on various factors that may have a direct impact on the results for the performance period, including the effects of volume and reimbursement-related factors and acquisition-related activities.

 

 

The approach described in the table above reflects the Compensation Committee’s desire to set rigorous performance goals in a highly volatile and uncertain environment, while also rewarding NEOs when the Company achieves these goals and delivers sustained results for our shareholders.

In setting financial performance goals for these performance share awards, the Compensation Committee received recommendations from management based on the Company’s strategic plan for the performance measurement period. The Compensation Committee, working with its independent compensation consultant and Company management, evaluated the impact of various drivers on revenue and EBITDA in determining the 2017 grants.

 

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The 2017 performance goals were set to appropriately reflect specific factors that were expected to have a direct impact on the results for this performance period. The growth rate targets for the 2017 performance period differ from the Company’s historical 5-year average growth rates because of volatility in the various drivers that impact results from year to year. Other drivers considered in setting the performance goals included, but were not necessarily limited to: acquisition-related activities, including size, type, timing and volume of acquisitions, the continued diversification of our services, same-unit volume growth, expense-related initiatives and reimbursement-related factors, including payor mix. At the time the 2017 performance goals were being developed, the financial challenges faced by the Company were becoming apparent, but their full impact on future net revenue and EBITDA results was still highly uncertain. The Compensation Committee established net revenue and EBITDA goals that reflected the financial challenges and uncertain operating environment, particularly with regard to year-over-year changes in EBITDA, that the Compensation Committee felt were still rigorous yet achievable. At the time the goals were approved, the Company’s internal forecast for the Performance Share measurement period projected a significant decline in EBITDA and modest growth in net revenue. The Compensation Committee developed performance goals in light of these forecasts, noting that it would be extremely unlikely that an above-target award would be earned based on the financial forecasts at the time of the goal. Consideration was also given to those factors that impacted previous year results (positively or negatively) but were not anticipated to impact 2017 results. The Compensation Committee further elected to eliminate a retesting feature of the equity program that allowed an additional opportunity to earn performance shares if the performance criteria were not met during the initial performance period.

As the Company continues to grow, the base on which performance goals are set will continue to increase, and it will become increasingly challenging to maintain historical growth rates for both revenue and EBITDA. This factor was also taken into account when setting growth rate targets for the 2017 performance period.

The Committee believes the above approach used to establish financial performance goals for performance share awards results in goals that are challenging yet realistic and achievable, adequately rigorous and effective in continuing to motivate the executive team to drive the strong shareholder returns historically generated by the Company. Accordingly, the Committee believes the performance shares awarded appropriately align Company performance with executive compensation.

While this discussion of 2017 equity awards relates to growth targets for the 2017 performance period, we believe our approach to granting performance shares also creates long-term alignment, given that the value of the award realized by the NEOs will depend on the value of our stock when the shares vest over a multi-year period. As a result, we believe our NEOs are incentivized not only to execute the Company’s growth strategy but also to maintain discipline in its acquisition-related activities and processes in order to generate sustainable longer-term growth and increased shareholder value. We believe our approach also addresses our critical need to retain the highest-caliber executives in our industry — especially as the challenges in the healthcare sector grow increasingly more complex and competition for executive talent in the healthcare sector increases.

 

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The table below outlines the 2017 equity award program:

 

Equity Component    How It Works     

Performance Share Awards (50%)

 

Purpose: To have the percentage of shares earned vary with Company performance achievement compared to pre-established goals

  

•  50% of the performance share award is tied to net revenue results and 50% is tied to EBITDA results; results for each metric are considered separately.

 

•  Performance will initially be measured over a one-year period from April 1, 2017 through March 31, 2018.

 

•  If shares are earned during this initial measurement period, they will vest over the first three anniversaries of the grant date (June 1, 2018, 2019 and 2020) subject to continued employment.

 

•  Shares earned may vary from 0% to 150% of target based on growth rates of net revenue and EBITDA during the initial measurement period:

   
                   
         
        

Net Revenue Growth Rate Achieved

  Shares Earned   EBITDA Growth Rate Achieved       
          

-3.0% or Below

  0%   Below  -20.0%       
          

-3.0

  25%   -20.0%       
          

-3.0% to 1.99%

  See Footnote (1) below   -20.0% to  -12.901%       
          

2% to 11%

  100%   -12.9 to 2.5%       
          

11.01% to 15%

  See Footnote (1) below   2.501% to 7.5%       
          

Over 15%

  150%   Over 7.5%       
    

 

(1) Actual percentage of shares earned will be determined by linear interpolation based on the actual growth rate achieved. For example, for each 1% of net revenue growth achieved between -3.0% and 1.99%, 15% of the performance shares would be earned for that metric, and for each 1% of net revenue growth achieved between 11.01% and 15%, 12.5% of the performance shares would be earned. In each case, any earned performance shares are subject to additional time-based vesting.

 

    
    

•  Any shares not earned by March 31, 2018 will be forfeited. The “retesting” feature of the equity program that allowed an additional opportunity to earn performance shares if the performance criteria were not met during the initial performance period was eliminated for the 2017 performance share awards.

 

    

Restricted Stock Awards (50%)

 

Purpose: To encourage the retention of executives, while providing a continuing incentive to increase shareholder value since the realized value of the award will depend on the Company’s share price at the times an award vests

 

 

  

•  Vesting will be contingent upon the Company achieving a performance goal established at the time of the grant to preserve tax deductibility under §162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code consisting of EBITDA for the 12 months ended March 31, 2018 of not less than $400 million. Once the performance goal is satisfied, shares will vest at the rate of one-third per year beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date.

 

•  If the performance goal is satisfied, shares will vest over the first three anniversaries of the grant date (June 1, 2018, 2019 and 2020) subject to continued employment

 

•  If the performance goal is not achieved by March 31, 2018, all shares will be forfeited.

    

 

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Actual Performance and Shares Earned in 2017 for 2016 Performance Share Awards

For the period from April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017, the Company’s net revenue and EBITDA, the metrics on which the 2016 performance share awards were measured, grew by 13.1%, in the case of net revenue and 2%, in the case of EBITDA. In accordance with the pre-established target growth rates of 8% to 14% for each of net revenue and EBITDA, our NEOs earned 100% and 25.5% of their target performance share awards for each metric, respectively, and 62.75% of their target performance share awards overall. The shares earned vest over the first three anniversaries of the grant date, subject to continued employment.

Restricted Stock Unit Awards

Based on the results of the updated NEO market analysis conducted in 2017, in December 2017 the Compensation Committee made supplemental grants to Messrs. Clark and Andreano of 14,741 and 9,828 performance-based restricted stock units (“RSUs”) respectively. These grants were designed to ensure that the total compensation of Messrs. Clark and Andreano was competitive with market references, particularly after the market analysis completed in the fall of 2017 indicated that the annual equity grants made in June 2017 to Messrs. Clark and Andreano were below the market median for each. The RSUs will vest on March 1, 2020 if the Company achieves consolidated EBITDA for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 equal to or exceeding $440,000,000, and is subject to each executive’s continued employment.

Other Practices, Policies & Guidelines

Equity Grant Practices

The Compensation Committee determines the effective date of annual equity-based awards without regard to current or anticipated stock price levels. Although usually made around mid-year, the Compensation Committee may also make, and in the past has made, grants during the course of the year, primarily for new hires, promotions, to retain valued employees or to reward exceptional performance. These grants may be subject to performance conditions and/or time-based vesting, and are issued on the date of grant approval or upon a date certain following the grant approval date.

We follow equity grant procedures designed to promote the proper authorization, documentation and accounting for all equity grants. Pursuant to these procedures the Compensation Committee or the Board of Directors must formally approve all equity awards during an in person or telephonic meeting or by the unanimous written consent executed by all members of the Compensation Committee or the Board of Directors, as the case may be, it being understood that no equity award granted pursuant to any such written consent may have an effective date earlier than the date that all executed counterparts of such unanimous written consent are delivered to the General Counsel of the Company.

The grant-date fair value of our equity-based awards will be the closing sales price for a share of our common stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on the effective date of the grant as approved by the Compensation Committee or the Board of Directors, which date may not be prior to either the date such grant was approved or the commencement date of employment of the employee to whom the equity award is being made.

Our “insiders” can only buy or sell Company stock in accordance with our Insider Trading Policy, and our employees generally can only buy or sell Company stock in accordance with our Policy Statement on Inside Information and Insider Trading for All Employees.

NEOs are allowed to vote performance shares and restricted stock as a shareholder based on the number of shares held under restriction. Any dividends declared with respect to any performance share or restricted stock awards would be held until the awards vest, at which time the dividends would be paid to the NEOs. If performance shares or restricted stock are forfeited, the NEO’s rights to receive the dividends declared with respect to those shares would be forfeited as well. At present, the Company does not pay dividends and it has no current intention to do so in the future.

 

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Clawback Policy

The Company has adopted a “clawback policy” that permits the Company to seek to recover certain amounts of incentive compensation, including both cash and equity, awarded to any executive officer (as defined in the Exchange Act ) on or after January 1, 2014 if payment of such compensation was based on the achievement of financial results that were subsequently the subject of a restatement of our financial statements due to misconduct, and if the executive officer engaged in improper conduct that materially contributed to the need for restatement, and a lower amount of incentive compensation would have been earned based on the restated financial results.

Stock Ownership and Retention Policy

The Compensation Committee believes that the Company’s Board of Directors and NEOs should maintain a material personal financial stake in the Company through the ownership of shares of the Company’s common stock to promote a long-term perspective in managing the enterprise and to align shareholder, director and executive interests.

Each of our NEOs are required to own shares of MEDNAX common stock with a value of not less than a specified multiple of his or her base salary. The policy also requires NEOs to retain 50% of net after-tax shares acquired during the year upon vesting (or exercise of stock options) unless his or her ownership level was satisfied as of the beginning of the year. These multiples were determined in accordance with current market practice.

The chart below shows the multiple of base salary ownership requirements and actual ownership levels as of December 31, 2017:

 

Name   Ownership
         Requirement        
  Ownership Level as of  December 31, 2017

Dr. Medel

  6x base salary   64.2x base salary

Mr. Calabro

  4x base salary   19.8x base salary

Ms. Lopez-Blanco

  2x base salary   6.5x base salary

Mr. Clark

  2x base salary   2.9x base salary

Mr. Andreano

  2x base salary   4.0x base salary

As the table above reflects, our NEOs hold a significant investment in MEDNAX, which is a strong reflection of our culture and aligns with our compensation philosophy.

Shares that count toward the ownership requirement are as follows:

 

   

Owned outright by the NEO or Director, or by spouse or dependent children;

 

   

Held in trust for economic benefit of the NEO or Director, or spouse or dependent children;

 

   

Held in the MEDNAX 401(k) plan or other Company-sponsored benefit plan; and

 

   

Restricted shares/units for which the underlying performance conditions have been met and only remain subject to time-based vesting requirements or any restricted shares/units only subject to time-based vesting requirements or the achievement of performance goals established at the time of the grant solely to preserve tax deductibility under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The Compensation Committee will evaluate NEO ownership levels annually and will review this policy from time to time and, following consultation with the Board of Directors, make modifications as necessary or appropriate.

 

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Anti-Hedging and Anti-Pledging Policy

All MEDNAX directors, management, financial and other insiders are prohibited from engaging in transactions in MEDNAX securities or derivatives of MEDNAX securities that might be considered hedging, such as selling short or buying or selling options. In addition, it is against the policy for such persons to hold securities in margin accounts or pledge MEDNAX securities as collateral for a loan, unless such person clearly demonstrates the financial capacity to repay the loan without resort to the pledged securities.

Retirement and Deferred Compensation Plans

We maintain a Thrift and Profit Sharing Plan (the “401(k) Plan”), which is a 401(k) plan, to enable eligible employees to save for retirement through a tax-advantaged combination of elective employee contributions and our discretionary matching contributions, and provide employees the opportunity to directly manage their retirement plan assets through a variety of investment options. The 401(k) Plan allows eligible employees to elect to contribute from 1% to 60% of their eligible compensation to an investment trust on a pre-tax and/or Roth after-tax basis, up to the maximum dollar amounts permitted by law. The 401(k) Plan also offers employees the option to voluntarily contribute additional funds on a non-deductible after-tax basis subject to certain limits. In 2017, the maximum employee pre-tax and/or Roth elective contribution to the 401(k) Plan was $18,000, plus an additional $6,000 for employees who were at least 50 years old in 2017. Eligible compensation generally means all wages, salaries and fees for services from the Company, up to a maximum specified amount permitted by law. Matching contributions under the 401(k) Plan are discretionary. For 2017, the Company matched 100% of the first 4% of eligible compensation that each eligible participant contributed to the 401(k) Plan on his or her behalf. The portion of an employee’s account under the 401(k) Plan that is attributable to matching contributions vests as follows: 30% after one year of service, 60% after two years of service, and 100% after three years of service. However, regardless of the number of years of service, an employee is fully vested in our matching contributions (and the earnings thereon) if the employee retires at age 65 or later, or terminates employment by reason of death or total and permanent disability. The 401(k) Plan provides for a variety of different investment options, in which the employee’s and the Company’s contributions are invested.

Although the Company maintains a non-qualified deferred compensation plan, none of the NEOs participate in that Plan.

The amounts of the Company’s matching contributions under the 401(k) Plan for 2017 for each of the NEOs are included in the “All Other Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table.

Benefits and Perquisites

We provide our NEOs with certain benefits designed to protect them and their immediate families in the event of illness, disability, or death. We believe it is necessary to provide these benefits in order for us to be successful in attracting and retaining executives in a competitive marketplace, and to provide financial security in these circumstances. NEOs are eligible for health and welfare benefits available to similarly situated eligible Company employees during active employment under the same terms and conditions. These benefits include medical, dental, vision, short-term and long-term disability and group-term life insurance coverage.

Pursuant to the terms of their Employment Agreements, each of the NEOs are entitled to 38 days paid time off each year for vacation, illness, injury, personal days and other similar purposes in accordance with our policies in effect from time to time. Any paid time off not used during a calendar year may be carried over to the next year to the extent permitted under those policies. Dr. Medel and Mr. Calabro each are entitled under their Employment Agreements to utilize, for personal travel, the aircraft that the Company leases. Dr. Medel’s personal use of the aircraft may not exceed 95 hours of flight in any calendar year and Mr. Calabro’s personal use of the aircraft may not exceed 50 hours of flight in any calendar year without the consent of the Compensation Committee. The incremental cost to the Company of these benefits for Dr. Medel and Mr. Calabro is included in the “All Other Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table.

 

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The Compensation Committee has reviewed our perquisites expenditures, and believes they continue to be an important element of the overall compensation package to retain current officers, and in fact command a higher perceived value than the actual cost.

Termination of Employment and Change in Control Agreements

As described in greater detail below, the Employment Agreements between the Company and each of the NEOs provide for the payment of certain compensation and benefits in the event of the termination of an executive’s employment, the amount of which varies depending upon the reason for such termination. The Compensation Committee has reviewed the essential terms of these termination provisions, and believes they are reasonable, appropriate, and generally consistent with market practice. Those provisions include a reimbursement by the Company to Mr. Calabro of any excise tax imposed upon the executive pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code with respect to any “excess parachute payments,” as that term is defined in Section 280G of the Code, that the executive receives as a result of a Change in Control. In the case of Dr. Medel, his current Employment Agreement provides that, if any amount payable to Dr. Medel in connection with a Change in Control would be subject to excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code, then the Company will reduce the payment to an amount equal to the largest portion of such payment that would result in no portion of such payment being subject to excise tax (unless such reduction would result in Dr. Medel receiving, on an after tax basis, an amount lower than the unreduced payment after taking into account all applicable federal, state and local employment taxes, income taxes and excise taxes, in which case the payment amount would not be reduced).

In certain situations pursuant to the terms of the award agreement or an executive’s Employment Agreement, the service requirement may be waived and vesting accelerated. However, in no situations except those involving a change-in-control of MEDNAX will any shares vest unless the performance goal has first been achieved.

Additionally, any unvested restricted stock is generally forfeited upon termination of the employment of the NEOs. The Employment Agreements with our NEOs provide however, that their restricted stock may vest or continue to vest after termination of employment in certain circumstances. In the event of termination of Dr. Medel and Mr. Calabro by the Company without Cause (as defined in his Employment Agreement) or due to the executive’s Disability (as defined in his Employment Agreement) or by the executive for Good Reason (as defined in his Employment Agreement), due to the executive’s health becoming impaired to any extent that makes the continued performance of his duties hazardous to the executive’s physical or mental health or life (“Poor Health”) or due to death, all restricted stock granted prior to termination of employment will continue to vest until fully vested. Furthermore, in the event of a Change in Control (as defined in his Employment Agreement), for Dr. Medel and Mr. Calabro, all unvested restricted stock will automatically vest. In the event that Ms. Lopez-Blanco’s or Messrs. Clark or Andreano’s employment is terminated due to Disability or death, all unvested restricted stock granted to her or him by the Company will continue to vest until fully vested following the termination of her or his employment. In the event that, at any time following a Change in Control (as defined in her or his Employment Agreement), Ms. Lopez-Blanco or Messrs. Clark and Andreano are terminated by the Company without Cause (as defined in her or his Employment Agreement) or by the executive for Good Reason (as defined in her or his Employment Agreement), provided that termination by the executive for Good Reason related to a diminution in duties following a Change in Control must occur within the 24-month period of a Change in Control, any unvested restricted stock will automatically vest.

 

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Summary Compensation Table

The following table sets forth the 2017, 2016 and 2015 compensation for our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, and our other NEOs for the time they were deemed to be NEOs.

 

Name and Principal Position

   Year      Salary     Stock
Awards(1)
     Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
     All Other
Compensation
    Total
Compensation
 

Roger J. Medel, M.D.

Chief Executive Officer

    

2017

2016

2015

 

 

 

   $

$

$

1,000,000

1,000,000

1,000,000

 

 

 

  $

$

$

6,150,000

6,150,035

6,150,045

 

 

 

   $

$

$

—  

444,000

1,687,500

 

 

 

   $

$

$

215,508

230,750

172,868

(3) 

(3) 

(3) 

  $

$

$

7,365,508

7,824,785

9,010,413

 

 

 

Vivian Lopez-Blanco.

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

    

2017

2016

2015

 

 

 

   $

$

$

475,000

454,167

425,000

 

(2) 

 

  $

$

$

1,300,029

1,300,037

1,150,040

 

 

 

   $

$

$

—  

140,600

478,125

 

 

 

   $

$

$

11,088

13,301

12,816

(4) 

(4) 

(4) 

  $

$

$

1,786,117

1,908,105

2,065,981

 

 

 

Joseph M. Calabro

President and Chief Operating Officer

    

2017

2016

2015

 

 

 

   $

$

$

600,000

600,000

600,000

 

 

 

  $

$

$

3,750,025

3,750,056

3,750,057

 

 

 

   $

$

$

—  

177,600

675,000

 

 

 

   $

$

$

90,766

142,749

60,517

(5) 

(5) 

(5) 

  $

$

$

4,440,791

4,670,405

5,085,574

 

 

 

David A. Clark

President, MEDNAX National Medical

Group

     2017      $ 450,000     $ 1,600,034      $ 337,500      $ 18,266 (6)    $ 2,405,800  

Dominic J. Andreano

Senior Vice President, General Counsel and

Secretary

     2017      $ 350,000     $ 1,000,085      $ 196,875      $ 11,088 (7)    $ 1,558,048  

 

(1) Stock awards consist of performance-based restricted stock awards, time-based restricted stock awards and time-based restricted stock unit awards. The amounts in this column reflect the grant-date fair value of the awards, calculated in accordance with the accounting guidance for equity-based compensation, but excluding the impact of estimated forfeitures. The amounts included for any performance-based restricted stock awards are calculated based on the most probable outcome of the performance conditions for such awards on the grant date. See the Grants of Plan-Based Awards in 2017 table for information on restricted stock awards granted in 2017. For information regarding the assumptions made in calculating the amounts reflected in this column, see Note 13, “Stock Incentive Plans and Stock Purchase Plans,” to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in our 2017 Annual Report to Shareholders.
(2) The salary amount provided represents actual paid salary for 2016. Ms. Lopez-Blanco received an increase in base salary effective June 1, 2016.
(3) Reflects incremental costs in 2017, 2016 and 2015 of $204,578, $217,870, and $159,863, respectively, for Dr. Medel’s personal use of an aircraft, which MEDNAX leases, in accordance with his Employment Agreement, additional compensation in 2017, 2016 and 2015 of $10,800, $10,600 and $10,600, respectively, for 401(k) thrift and profit sharing matching contributions, and costs incurred by MEDNAX of $130, $141, and $156, respectively, for term life insurance coverage. Also includes costs incurred by MEDNAX in 2016 and 2015 for spousal travel to and entertainment (recreational activities) at MEDNAX’s annual board retreat which do not exceed the greater of $25,000 or 10% of the total amount of perquisites and personal benefits received in either year.
(4) Reflects additional compensation of $10,800, $10,600 and $10,600, for 401(k) thrift and profit sharing matching contributions in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and other compensation of $288, $260, and $240, respectively, for term life insurance coverage in 2017, 2016 and 2015. Also includes costs incurred by MEDNAX in 2016 and 2015 for spousal travel to and entertainment (recreational activities) at MEDNAX’s annual board retreat which does not exceed the greater of $25,000 or 10% of the total amount of perquisites and personal benefits received in either year.
(5) Reflects incremental costs in 2017, 2016 and 2015 of $79,678, $129,726 and $49,677, respectively, for Mr. Calabro’s personal use of an aircraft, which MEDNAX leases, in accordance with his Employment Agreement, additional compensation in 2017, 2016 and 2015 of $10,800, $10,600 and $10,600, respectively, for 401(k) thrift and profit sharing matching contributions, and costs incurred by MEDNAX in 2017, 2016 and 2015 of $288, $260 and $240, respectively, for term life insurance coverage. Also includes costs incurred by MEDNAX in 2016 for guest travel to and entertainment (recreational activities) at MEDNAX’s annual board retreat which does not exceed the greater of $25,000 or 10% of the total amount of perquisites and personal benefits received in that year.
(6) Reflects additional compensation of $10,800 for 401(k) thrift and profit sharing matching contributions, costs incurred by MEDNAX of $288 for term life insurance coverage and incremental costs of $7,178 for Mr. Clark’s share of personal travel on an aircraft, which MEDNAX leases which use of such aircraft occurred during travel with either Dr. Medel or Mr. Calabro under the terms of each executive’s Employment Agreement.
(7) Reflects additional compensation of $10,800 for 401(k) thrift and profit sharing matching contributions and costs incurred by MEDNAX of $288 for term life insurance coverage.

 

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Grants of Plan-Based Awards in 2017

 

Name

  Grant
Date
    Estimated Future  Payouts
Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan
Awards(1)
    Estimated Future Payouts Under
Equity Incentive Plan Awards
(Shares)(2)
    All Other Stock
Awards
(Shares)
    Grant-
Date Fair
Value of
Stock
Awards(5)
 
    Threshold     Target     Maximum     Threshold     Target     Maximum      

Roger J. Medel, M.D.

                 

Annual cash incentive

    $ 0     $ 1,500,000     $ 3,000,000            

Performance share award

    6/1/17             0       55,266       82,899       $ 3,075,000  

Restricted stock award

    6/1/17                   55,266 (3)    $ 3,075,000  

Vivian Lopez-Blanco

                 

Annual cash incentive

    $ 0     $ 475,000     $ 950,000            

Performance share award

    6/1/17             0       11,682       17,523       $ 650,014  

Restricted stock award

    6/1/17                   11,683 (3)    $ 650,015  

Joseph M. Calabro

                 

Annual cash incentive

    $ 0     $ 600,000     $ 1,200,000            

Performance share award

    6/1/17             0       33,698       50,547       $ 1,875,012  

Restricted stock award

    6/1/17                   33,700 (3)    $ 1,875,013  

David A. Clark

                 

Annual cash incentive

    $ 0     $ 450,000     $ 900,000            

Restricted stock award

    6/1/17             —         —         —         15,277 (3)    $ 850,012  

Restricted stock unit award

    12/7/17                   14,741 (4)    $ 750,022  

Dominic J. Andreano

                 

Annual cash incentive

    $ 0     $ 262,500     $ 525,000            

Restricted stock award

    6/1/17             —         —         —         8,987 (3)    $ 500,037  

Restricted stock units award

    12/7/17                   9,828 (4)    $ 500,049  

 

(1) These columns reflect the range of payouts for 2017 annual cash bonuses under the MEDNAX, Inc. Amended and Restated 2008 Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended (the “Plan”). Amounts actually earned in 2017 are reported as Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation in the Summary Compensation Table. For a more detailed description of the annual cash awards, see the section entitled “Annual Bonuses” in CD&A.
(2) Represents performance share awards granted under the Plan, for which shares earned may vary from 0% to 150% of target based on growth rates of net revenue and EBITDA during the initial measurement period. Award amounts are divided equally into performance share awards (50%) and time-based restricted stock (50%). The performance share awards vest as follows: 50% of the performance share award is tied to the Company’s revenue results and 50% of the performance share award is tied to the Company’s EBITDA results; results for each metric are considered separately. Performance will initially be measured over a one-year period from April 1, 2017 through March 31, 2018. If shares are earned during this initial measurement period, they will vest in three equal increments over the first three anniversaries of the grant date (June 1, 2018, June 1, 2019 and June 1, 2020) subject to continued employment. Shares earned may vary from 0% to 150% of target based on growth rates of net revenue and EBITDA during the initial measurement period. Any shares not earned by March 31, 2018 will be forfeited. For a more detailed description of our performance share awards and equity-based award granting policies, see the section entitled “2017 Equity-Based Awards” in CD&A.
(3) Represents restricted stock awards granted under the Plan, for which the vesting is contingent upon the Company achieving a performance goal established at the time of the grant to preserve tax deductibility under §162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. The restricted stock awards vest as follows: if the Company’s EBITDA for the twelve months ended March 31, 2018, equals or exceeds $400 million, then the restricted stock will vest in three equal increments over the first three anniversaries of the grant date (June 1, 2018, June 1, 2019 and June 1, 2020) subject to continued employment. If, however, EBITDA does not equal or exceed $400 million for that period, then the restricted stock shall terminate and become null and void. For a more detailed description of our restricted stock and equity-based award granting policies, see the section entitled “2017 Equity-Based Awards” in CD&A.
(4) Represents restricted stock unit awards granted under the Plan, for which the vesting is contingent upon the Company achieving a performance goal established at the time of the grant to preserve tax deductibility under §162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. The restricted stock unit awards shall vest as follows: if achievement of consolidated Company EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, for the twelve months ending December 31, 2018 equals or exceeds $440 million, then the restricted stock units will vest on March 1, 2020. In the event the performance period terminates due to a Change in Control (as defined in the Plan), the Compensation Committee may evaluate satisfaction of the performance criteria on a pro forma basis.
(5) The grant-date fair value of the performance share awards, restricted stock awards and restricted stock unit awards is determined pursuant to the accounting guidance for equity-based compensation and represents the total amount that will be expensed in our financial statements over the relevant vesting periods. For information regarding the assumptions made in calculating the amounts reflected in this column, see Note 13, “Stock Incentive Plans and Stock Purchase Plans,” to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in our 2017 Annual Report to Shareholders.

 

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Outstanding Equity Awards at 2017 Fiscal Year-End

 

Name

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

Roger J. Medel, M.D.

     —         —          —          31,082 (3)    $ 1,661,022  
             49,076 (4)    $ 2,622,621  
             110,532 (5)    $ 5,906,830  

Vivian Lopez-Blanco

     40,000 (2)    $ 25.14        5/27/2018        5,812 (3)    $ 310,593  
             10,374 (4)    $ 554,387  
             23,365 (5)    $ 1,248,626  

Joseph M. Calabro

     —         —          —          18,953 (3)    $ 1,012,848  
             29,925 (4)    $ 1,599,192  
             67,398 (5)    $ 3,601,749  

David A. Clark

     —         —          —          3,205 (3)    $ 171,275  
             6,618 (4)    $ 353,666  
             15,277 (6)    $ 816,403  
             14,741 (7)    $ 787,759  

Dominic J. Andreano

     6,000 (8)    $ 27.72        6/2/2018        2,374 (3)    $ 126,867  
             4,903 (4)    $ 262,016  
             8,987 (6)    $ 480,265  
             9,828 (7)    $ 525,208  

 

(1) Based on a stock price of $53.44, which was the closing price of a share of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on December 29, 2017 (as December 30 and 31, 2017 were not market trading days).
(2) These stock options vested in three equal increments on May 27, 2010, May 27, 2011 and May 27, 2012.
(3) These performance share awards and restricted stock awards vest on June 1, 2018.
(4) These performance share awards and restricted stock awards vest in two equal increments on each of June 1, 2018 and June 1, 2019.
(5) Represents performance share awards and restricted stock awards granted under the Plan. Award amounts are divided equally into performance share awards (50%) and time-based restricted stock (50%). The performance share awards vest as follows: 50% of the performance share award is tied to the Company’s net revenue results and 50% of the performance share award is tied to the Company’s EBITDA results; results for each metric are considered separately. Performance will initially be measured over a one-year period from April 1, 2017 through March 31, 2018. Shares earned may vary from 0% to 150% of target based on growth rates of net revenue and EBITDA during the initial measurement period. If shares are earned during this initial measurement period, they will vest in three equal increments over the first three anniversaries of the grant date (June 1, 2018, June 1, 2019 and June 1, 2020) subject to continued employment. Any shares not earned by March 31, 2018 will be forfeited. The restricted stock awards vest as follows: if the Company’s EBITDA for the twelve months ended March 31, 2018 equals or exceeds $400 million, then the restricted stock will vest in three equal increments over the first three anniversaries of the grant date (June 1, 2018, June 1, 2019 and June 1, 2020) subject to continued employment. If, however, EBITDA does not equal or exceed $400 million for that period, then the restricted stock shall terminate and become null and void. For a more detailed description of our restricted stock and restricted stock granting policies, see the section entitled “2017 Equity-Based Awards” in CD&A.
(6) Represents restricted stock awards granted under the Plan, for which the vesting is contingent upon the Company achieving a performance goal established at the time of the grant to preserve tax deductibility under §162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. The restricted stock awards vest as follows: if the Company’s EBITDA for the twelve months ended March 31, 2018 equals or exceeds $400 million, then the restricted stock will vest in three equal increments over the first three anniversaries of the grant date (June 1, 2018, June 1, 2019 and June 1, 2020) subject to continued employment. If, however, EBITDA does not equal or exceed $400 million for that period, then the restricted stock shall terminate and become null and void. For a more detailed description of our restricted stock and equity-based award granting policies, see the section entitled “2017 Equity-Based Awards” in CD&A.
(7) Represents restricted stock unit awards granted under the Plan, for which the vesting is contingent upon the Company achieving a performance goal established at the time of the grant to preserve tax deductibility under §162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. The restricted stock unit awards shall vest as follows: the Company’s EBITDA, for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 equals or exceeds $440 million, then the restricted stock units will vest on March 1, 2020. In the event the performance period terminates due to a Change in Control (as defined in the Plan), the Compensation Committee may evaluate satisfaction of the performance criteria on a pro forma basis.
(8) These stock options vested in three equal increments on June 1, 2009, June 1, 2010 and June 1, 2011.

 

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Options Exercised and Stock Vested in Fiscal Year 2017

 

Name

   Option Awards      Stock Awards(1)  
   Number
of Shares
Acquired
Upon
Exercise
     Value
Realized
Upon
Exercise(2)
     Number of
Shares
Acquired on
Vesting
     Value of
Shares
Realized
Upon
Vesting(3)
 

Roger J. Medel, M.D.

     —        $ —          91,193      $ 4,951,780  

Vivian Lopez-Blanco

     —        $ —          17,652      $ 958,504  

Joseph M. Calabro

     —        $ —          55,605      $ 3,019,352  

David A. Clark

     —        $ —          10,202      $ 553,969  

Dominic J. Andreano

     6,000      $ 246,262        6,995      $ 379,829  

 

(1) These columns reflect performance shares and restricted stock previously awarded to the NEO that vested during 2017.
(2) Calculated based on the sales price received by the NEO upon the sale of the shares of MEDNAX common stock acquired upon the exercise of such stock options less the exercise price of such options.
(3) Calculated based on the closing price of a share of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the vesting date.

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

In August 2011, the Company entered into a new Employment Agreement with Dr. Medel that replaced his previous Employment Agreement entered into in August 2008. In October 2017, the Company entered into an amendment to Dr. Medel’s Employment Agreement to extend its term until August 2021. In August 2008, the Company entered into an Employment Agreement with Mr. Calabro. The Company entered into new Employment Agreements with each of Ms. Lopez-Blanco and Messrs. Clark and Andreano, in February 2018 (the “2018 Employment Agreements”). Each of these Employment Agreements provides for the Company to make certain payments and provide certain benefits to the executive upon termination of employment with the Company. Those provisions are summarized below.

Termination by Company for Cause. In the event that an executive’s employment with the Company is terminated by the Company for Cause, then the Company will pay the executive his or her base salary through the termination date at the rate in effect at the termination date and reimburse the executive for any reasonable business expenses incurred through the date of termination.

The term “Cause” is defined in each of the Employment Agreements for Dr. Medel and Mr. Calabro to mean the executive’s (i) engagement in (A) willful misconduct resulting in material harm to the Company, or (B) gross negligence; (ii) conviction of, or pleading nolo contendere to, a felony or any other crime involving fraud, financial misconduct, or misappropriation of the Company’s assets; (iii) willful and continual failure, after written notice, to (A) perform substantially his employment duties consistent with his position and authority, or (B) follow, consistent with his position, duties, and authorities, the reasonable lawful mandates of his supervisor; or (iv) breach of the requirements of his employment agreement with respect to the Company’s confidential information. For purposes of this definition, acts or omissions taken by the executive in a good faith belief that they were in the best interests of the Company or if done at the express direction of the Company’s Board of Directors will not be deemed willful or grossly negligent. In each of the Employment Agreements for Ms. Lopez-Blanco and Messrs. Clark and Andreano, the term “Cause” is defined to mean (i) any act or omission of the executive which is materially contrary to the business interests, reputation or goodwill of the Company; (ii) a material breach by the executive of his or her obligations under the Employment Agreement, which breach is not promptly remedied upon written notice from the Company; (iii) the executive’s refusal to perform his or her duties as assigned pursuant to the Employment Agreement other than a refusal which is remedied by the executive promptly after receipt of written notice thereof by the Company; or (iv) the executive’s failure or refusal to comply with a reasonable policy, standard or regulation of the Company in any material respect.

Termination by Executive due to Poor Health or due to Executive’s Death. In the event that an executive terminates his or her employment because of Poor Health or the executive’s employment terminates because of his or her death, then the Company will pay to the executive (or his or her estate) his or her base salary to the

 

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termination date, pay the executive a pro rata portion of the bonus that the executive would have received had his or her employment not terminated (as determined in accordance with the Employment Agreement) and reimburse the executive for any reasonable business expenses incurred through the date of termination. In addition, if the executive terminates his or her employment due to Poor Health, the executive will receive any disability payments otherwise payable under any plans provided by the Company.

Termination due to Disability. If the Company terminates the employment of Dr. Medel or Mr. Calabro by reason of his Disability, then the Company will continue to pay Dr. Medel and Mr. Calabro base salary for a period of 12 months after the termination date and the actual performance bonus, on a pro rata basis, that would have been payable to the executive for the fiscal year if the executive had not been terminated. If the Company terminates the employment of Ms. Lopez-Blanco or Messrs. Clark or Andreano by reason of his or her Disability, the Company will pay the executive 50% of his or her base salary for a period of six months after the termination date and the actual performance bonus, on a pro rata basis, that would have been payable to the executive for the fiscal year if he or she had not been terminated.

Termination by Company without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason or due to Change in Control. If the Company terminates the employment of Dr. Medel or Mr. Calabro without Cause (which requires not less than 90 days’ notice), or Mr. Calabro terminates his employment for any reason within one year after a Change in Control, the Company terminates the employment of Mr. Calabro within 24 months following a Change in Control, or Dr. Medel or Mr. Calabro terminates his employment for Good Reason, then the Company will (a) pay that executive’s base salary through the termination date plus any reimbursement owed to that executive for any reasonable business expenses incurred through the date of termination, (b) continue to pay the executive’s base salary for a period of 24 months after the termination date, (c) on the first and second anniversaries of the termination date, pay the executive an amount equal to the greater of his “average annual performance bonus” or his bonus for the year immediately preceding his or her termination and (d) pay the executive a pro rata portion of the bonus he would have received for the year in which his employment terminates. If the termination is due to a Change in Control, then the performance bonuses referred to in (c) above would be paid to the executive in a lump sum within 90 days of the termination date. If the Company terminates the employment of Dr. Medel without Cause or Dr. Medel terminates his employment for Good Reason in either case within 24 months following a Change in Control, the Company will pay his base salary through the termination date plus any reimbursement owed to him for any reasonable business expenses incurred through the date of termination and continue to pay Dr. Medel’s base salary for 36 months after the termination date and, within 90 days following such termination date, an amount equal to three times the greater of his “average annual performance bonus” or his bonus for the year immediately preceding his termination. For this purpose, “average annual performance bonus” means the average of the executive’s earned performance bonus as a percentage of base salary for the three years preceding such termination date, multiplied by the executive’s base salary at the time of termination. If Ms. Lopez-Blanco or Messrs. Clark or Andreano terminates his or her employment for Good Reason (other than a Change in Control Good Reason, as defined below), then the Company will (a) pay him or her base salary through the termination date plus any reimbursement owed to him or her for any reasonable business expenses incurred through the date of termination, (b) continue to pay him or her base salary for a period of 12 months (18 months if termination is in connection with a Change in Control) after the termination date, (c) pay him or her a pro rata portion of the performance bonus he or she would have received for the year in which his or her employment terminates, and (d) pay the executive an amount equal to the greater of his or her “average annual performance bonus” (as defined in his or her Employment Agreement) or his or her bonus for the year immediately preceding his termination. If the Company terminates the employment of Ms. Lopez-Blanco or Messrs. Clark or Andreano without Cause, then the Company will (a) pay his or her base salary through the termination date plus any reimbursement owed to him or her for any reasonable business expenses incurred through the date of termination, (b) continue to pay his or her base salary for a period of 18 months after the termination date, (c) pay him or her a pro rata portion of the performance bonus he or she would have received for the year in which his or her employment terminates, and (d) within 30 days of the first anniversary of the termination date, pay him or her an amount equal to his or her “average annual performance bonus.” For this purpose, “average annual performance bonus” means (i) the average of the percentage of the

 

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performance bonus target achieved by the executive for the three full calendar years prior to the termination date. If the termination is due to a Change in Control, then the performance bonuses referred to in (d) above would be paid to the executive in a lump sum within 90 days of the termination date. In addition, in the case of Ms. Lopez-Blanco and Messrs. Clark and Andreano, if, at any time following a Change in Control, the executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause, or by Executive for Good Reason, any unvested equity will become fully vested and exercisable as of the effective date of such termination. For purposes of this definition, “Good Reason” will not be deemed to exist unless the executive provides the Company with written notice of the existence of such condition within 90 days after the initial existence of the condition and the Company fails to remedy the condition within 30 days after its receipt of such notice.

The Employment Agreement for each of Dr. Medel and Mr. Calabro defines “Good Reason” to mean (i) a material diminution in the executive’s base salary or performance bonus eligibility; (ii) a material diminution in the executive’s authority, duties, or responsibilities; (iii) a material diminution in the authority, duties or responsibilities of the supervisor to whom the executive is required to report, including, in the case of the Chief Executive Officer, a requirement that Dr. Medel report to a corporate officer or employee instead of reporting directly to the Board of Directors of the Company; (iv) a material diminution in the budget over which the executive retains authority; (v) a material change in the geographic location at which the executive must perform the services under his Employment Agreement; or (vi) any other action or inaction that constitutes a material breach by the Company under his Employment Agreement. The 2018 Employment Agreements for Ms. Lopez-Blanco and Messrs. Clark and Andreano defines “Good Reason” to mean (i) a decrease in the executive’s base salary; (ii) a decrease in the performance bonus potential utilized by the Company in determining a performance bonus for the executive; (iii) within a two year period after a Change in Control, the executive is either (a) assigned any position, duties, responsibilities or compensation that is inconsistent with his or her position, duties, responsibilities or compensation prior to such Change in Control, or (b) required to report to any other person other than the President or Chief Executive Officer of Employer in place just prior to the Change in Control (provided that the executive is not Chief Executive Officer of the Company or its equivalent and reports directly to the Board), or (c) forced to relocate to another location more than 25 miles from the Company’s location prior to the Change in Control (each of (iii)(a), (b) and (c) a “Change in Control Good Reason”); (iv) the assignment to the executive of any officer position inconsistent with his or her present position or material diminution in authority, other than any isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent action not taken in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of written notice; (v) the requirement by the Company that the executive be based in any office or location outside of the metropolitan area where the Company’s present corporate offices are located, except for travel reasonably required in the performance of the executive’s duties; or (vi) any other action or inaction that constitutes a material breach by the Company of the executive’s Employment Agreement.

The term “Change in Control” is defined in each executive’s Employment Agreement to mean (i) the acquisition by a person or an entity or a group of persons and entities, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Company’s common stock in a single transaction or a series of transactions (hereinafter referred to as a “50% Change in Control”); (ii) a merger or other form of corporate reorganization resulting in an actual or de facto 50% Change in Control; or (iii) the failure of Applicable Directors (as defined below) to constitute a majority of the Company’s Board of Directors during any two (2) consecutive year period after the date of each of the executive’s Employment Agreement (the “Two-Year Period”). “Applicable Directors” means those individuals who are members of the Company’s Board of Directors at the inception of the Two-Year Period and any new Director whose election to the Board of Directors or nomination for election to the Board of Directors was approved (prior to any vote thereon by the shareholders) by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Directors then still in office who either were Directors at the beginning of the Two-Year Period at issue or whose election or nomination for election during such Two-Year Period was previously approved as provided in this sentence.

Termination by Executive. An executive may terminate his or her employment, other than for Good Reason or due to a Change in Control, upon 90 days’ notice to the Company. In such event, the Company will continue to pay the executive his or her base salary through the termination date, and in the case of Dr. Medel and

 

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Mr. Calabro, if in connection with such termination the executive gives sufficient notice and executes a general release of the Company, then the Company will pay the executive a pro rata portion of the bonus that the executive would have received had his employment not terminated (as determined in accordance with his Employment Agreement). In addition, the Company will reimburse each executive for any reasonable business expenses incurred through the date of termination. If the Company specifies a termination date for the employment of any of the NEOs that is less than 90 days, as applicable after the Company’s receipt of written notice of such termination from the executive, then the Company will continue to pay to the executive his or her base salary for a period ending on such 90th day.

Employment Transition and Severance Agreement. If the Company so requests within five business days following a termination of the employment of Dr. Medel or, Mr. Calabro by reason of the executive’s Disability, termination by the Company without Cause, termination by the executive due to Poor Health, or termination by the executive for Good Reason, then the executive will continue to be employed by the Company on a part-time basis for a period (the “transition period”) to be determined by the Company of up to 90 days, unless extended by mutual agreement. During this transition period, the executive is required to perform such services as may reasonably be required for the transition to others of matters previously within the executive’s responsibilities. Unless otherwise mutually agreed, the executive will not be required to serve more than five days per month during the transition period. For services during the transition period, the executive will be compensated at a daily rate equal to his base salary immediately prior to the termination of his employment divided by 365.

Continuation of Group Health Coverage. The Employment Agreement for each of Dr. Medel and Mr. Calabro also provides for the continuation in any self-insured, group health plan sponsored by the Company as if the executive were still an employee of the Company during any severance period or transition period. For this purpose, “severance period” means the period after the termination date during which the executive continues to receive base salary payments following the termination of employment as described above. In addition, upon termination of the executive’s employment for any reason (in the case of Dr. Medel or, in the case of the other executives for any reason other than Cause) and only if the executive and his eligible dependents first irrevocably decline any continuation coverage provided pursuant to the applicable provisions in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the executive and his eligible dependents will be entitled to elect to continue in any self-insured, group health plan sponsored by the Company as if the executive were still an employee of the Company (the “Enhanced Coverage”), during a period of five years following the later of the termination date, the end of the severance period or the end of the transition period. In its sole discretion, the Company may provide healthcare insurance to the executive and his eligible dependents through one or several insurance carriers selected by the Company in lieu of the Enhanced Coverage (the “Alternate Enhanced Coverage”), provided the coverage is substantially comparable. The executive will pay the full cost of the Enhanced Coverage or the cost of the Alternate Enhanced Coverage, up to the cost of the plan for such period of coverage for similarly situated employees and covered beneficiaries.

Payments in the Event of a Change in Control. The Employment Agreement for Mr. Calabro requires the Company to increase or “gross-up” any amounts payable to Mr. Calabro that are contingent upon a Change in Control by an amount that will reimburse the executive, on an after-tax basis, for any excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Code, on any amounts that are deemed to be “excess parachute payments,” and for any interest or penalties incurred by an executive with respect to any such excise tax.

Vesting of Equity Awards. The Employment Agreement for each of Dr. Medel and Mr. Calabro provides that all unvested stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and other stock based awards granted to an executive by the Company will continue to vest until fully vested following the termination of an executive’s employment due to Disability, termination without Cause, Good Reason, Poor Health or death. In addition, in the event of a Change in Control, for each of Dr. Medel and Mr. Calabro, such awards will automatically vest and, in the case of stock options and stock appreciation rights, become immediately exercisable. In the event Ms. Lopez-Blanco’s or Messrs. Clark or Andreano’s employment is terminated due to Disability or death, all unvested stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and other stock based awards granted to him or

 

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her by the Company will continue to vest until fully vested following the termination of his or her employment. In the event that, at any time following a Change in Control, Ms. Lopez-Blanco or Messrs. Clark and Andreano are terminated by the Company without Cause or by the executive for Good Reason, provided that termination by the executive for Good Reason related to a diminution in duties following a Change in Control must occur within the 24-month period following a Change in Control, any unvested stock options, unvested restricted stock, unvested stock appreciation rights and other unvested incentive compensation awards, held by the executive on the termination date will automatically vest and, in the case of stock options, become immediately exercisable.

In the case of Ms. Lopez-Blanco and Messrs. Clark and Andreano, their 2018 Employment Agreements also provide that unvested equity awards will vest in certain situations following a Change in Control absent a termination of the Executive’s employment unless more favorable provisions are included in a particular grant. If, prior to the one year anniversary of the effective date of a Change in Control, the employment by the Company or its affiliates or successors of both Dr. Medel and Mr. Calabro is terminated for any reason, or they both no longer hold the positions they held just prior to the Change in Control (and neither holds the top executive position in the Company), then the unvested equity awards granted to each of Ms. Lopez-Blanco and Messrs. Clark and Andreano will become fully vested and payable to the executive on the first anniversary of the effective date of the Change in Control; provided, however, that any portion of the unvested equity awards that is scheduled to become vested and payable pursuant to its terms prior to the first anniversary of such Change in Control will become vested and payable to the executive pursuant to its terms. Further, if, after the one year anniversary of the effective date of a Change in Control, the employment by the Company or its affiliates or successors of both Dr. Medel and Mr. Calabro is terminated for any reason, or they both no longer hold the positions they held just prior to the Change in Control (provided that neither holds the top executive position in the Company), then the unvested equity awards granted to each of Ms. Lopez-Blanco and Messrs. Clark and Andreano will become fully vested and payable to the executive on the one year anniversary of the termination date, or date of the change in position of Roger J. Medel, M.D. or Joseph M. Calabro, whichever termination date or date in change of position is later; provided, however, that any portion of the unvested equity awards that is scheduled to become vested and payable pursuant to its terms prior to the one year anniversary of such termination date or date of change in position will become vested and payable to the executive pursuant to its terms. In either case, the vesting of the unvested equity awards is subject to continued employment of Ms. Lopez-Blanco, or Messrs. Clark or Andreano through the date on which the unvested equity awards would vest in the situations described above.

Payments of Unused Leave Time. In accordance with the Company’s paid time off policies, an executive officer will be paid any earned but unused paid time off upon termination. This payment will occur in all termination events. In addition to the leave time that the executive accrues in any year, such executive may carry forward 15 days of leave time from the prior year; therefore, the maximum payout upon termination for each executive would be the value of such executive’s contracted annual leave time plus 15 carry-over days.

Restrictive Covenants. Pursuant to his or her Employment Agreement, each executive officer is subject to certain restrictive covenants that survive termination of employment. If the executive fails to comply with any of those restrictive covenants, he or she will not be entitled to receive any further payments or benefits as a result of the termination of his or her employment (other than his or her base salary through the date of termination and reimbursement of any reasonable business expenses incurred through the date of termination). In addition, the Company then will have the right to terminate without advance notice any future payments and benefits of every kind that otherwise would be due to the executive on account of his or her termination of employment.

 

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The following tables illustrate the payments and benefits that each of Dr. Medel, Ms. Lopez-Blanco, Messrs. Calabro, Clark and Andreano would have received under his or her Employment Agreement if his or her employment with the Company had terminated for any of the reasons described above on December 31, 2017. The amounts presented in the tables, reflect compensation (including equity ownership) at such year end, are estimates only and do not necessarily reflect the actual value of the payments and other benefits that would be received by the NEOs, which would only be known at the time that employment actually terminates.

 

        TRIGGERING EVENT  

Executive

 

Compensation
Components

  Change in
Control
    By
Executive
without
Good
Reason
    By
Company
for Cause
    By
Company
without
Cause
    By
Executive
for Good
Reason
    By the
Company
by Reason
of
Executive’s
Disability
    By
Executive
Due to
Poor
Health or
Due to
Executive’s
Death
 

Roger J. Medel, M.D

  Cash Severance(1)   $ 7,050,000     $ —       $ —   (8)    $ 4,700,000     $ 4,700,000     $ 1,000,000     $ —    
  Long-term Incentives(4)     10,190,474       —         —         10,190,474       10,190,474       10,190,474       10,190,474  
  Other Compensation(7)     198,000       198,000       198,000       198,000       198,000       198,000       198,000  
  Total Benefit to Employee   $ 17,438,474     $ 198,000     $ 198,000     $ 15,088,474     $ 15,088,474     $ 11,388,474     $ 10,388,474  

Vivian Lopez-Blanco

  Cash Severance(3)   $ 712,500     $ —       $ —   (8)    $ 1,125,750     $ 888,250     $ 237,500     $ —    
  Long-term Incentives(6)     2,113,605       —         —         —         —         2,113,605       2,113,605  
  Total Benefit to Employee   $ 2,826,105     $ —       $ —       $ 1,125,750     $ 888,250     $ 2,351,105     $ 2,113,605  

Joseph M. Calabro

  Cash Severance(2)   $ 2,280,000     $ —       $ —   (8)    $ 2,280,000     $ 2,280,000     $ 600,000     $ —    
  Long-term Incentives(4)     6,213,789       —         —         6,213,789       6,213,789       6,213,789       6,213,789  
  Section 280G Gross-up(5)     —         —         —         —         —         —         —    
  Total Benefit to Employee   $ 8,493,789     $ —       $ —       $ 8,493,789     $ 8,493,789     $ 6,813,789     $ 6,213,789  

David A. Clark

  Cash Severance(3)   $ 1,012,500     $ —       $ —   (8)    $ 1,305,000     $ 1,012,500     $ 562,500     $ 337,500  
  Long-term Incentives(6)     2,129,103       —         —         —         —         2,129,103       2,129,103  
  Total Benefit to Employee   $ 3,141,603     $ —       $ —       $ 1,305,000     $ 1,012,500     $ 2,691,603     $ 2,466,603  

Dominic Andreano

  Cash Severance(3)   $ 721,875     $ —       $ —   (8)    $ 952,875     $ 777,875     $ 371,875     $ 196,875  
  Long-term Incentives(6)     1,394,356       —         —         —         —         1,394,356       1,394,356  
  Total Benefit to Employee   $ 2,116,231     $ —       $ —       $ 952,875     $ 777,875     $ 1,766,231     $ 1,591,231  

 

(1) Cash severance includes: (i) in the case of a termination by the executive without Good Reason, base salary through the date of termination, the actual performance bonus, on a pro rata basis, that would have been payable to the executive for the fiscal year, as set forth in the Summary Compensation Table, if the executive had not been terminated so long as the executive gives sufficient notice and executes a general release of Company plus any reimbursement owed to the executive for reasonable business expenses incurred through the date of termination, (ii) in the case of termination by the Company without Cause or by the executive for Good Reason, (a) continuation of base salary through the termination date, plus any reimbursement owed to the executive for any reasonable business expenses incurred through the date of termination, (b) continuation of base salary for 24 months after the termination date, (c) on the first and second anniversaries of the termination date, the greater of the executive’s “average annual performance bonus” (as defined in the executive’s Employment Agreement) or his prior year’s bonus (this amount is paid as a lump sum within 90 days of the termination date if the termination is in connection with a Change in Control) and (d) the actual performance bonus, on a pro rata basis, that would have been payable to the executive for the fiscal year if the executive had not been terminated, (iii) in the case of termination by the Company without Cause or Dr. Medel for Good Reason, in either case within 24 months following a Change in Control: (a) continuation of base salary through the termination date, plus any reimbursement owed to the executive for any reasonable business expenses incurred through the date of termination, (b) continuation of base salary for 36 months after the termination date, (c) within 90 days following such termination, an amount equal to three times the greater of the executive’s “average annual performance bonus” (as defined in the executive’s Employment Agreement) or his prior year’s bonus, and (iv) in the case of termination by the Company on account of the executive’s Disability, continuation of base salary for a period of 12 months after the termination date and the actual performance bonus, on a pro rata basis, that would have been payable to executive for the fiscal year if executive had not been terminated, and (v) in the case of termination by the executive due to executive’s Poor Health or Death, the executive’s base salary through the termination date, the actual performance bonus, on a pro rata basis, that would have been payable to the executive for the fiscal year if the executive had not been terminated plus any reimbursement owed to the executive for reasonable business expenses incurred through the date of termination.
(2)

Cash severance includes: (i) in the case of a termination by the executive without Good Reason, base salary through the date of termination, the actual performance bonus, on a pro rata basis, that would have been payable to the executive for the fiscal year, as set forth in the Summary Compensation Table, if executive had not been terminated so long as the executive gives sufficient notice and executes a general release of Company plus any reimbursement owed to the executive for reasonable business expenses incurred through the date of termination, (ii) in the case of termination by the Company without Cause or by the executive for Good Reason or due to Change in Control, (a) continuation of base salary through the termination date, plus any reimbursement owed to the executive for any reasonable business expenses incurred through the date of termination, (b) continuation of base salary for 24 months after the termination date, (c) on the first and second anniversaries of the termination date, the greater of the executive’s “average annual performance bonus” (as defined in the executive’s Employment Agreement) or his prior year’s bonus (this amount is paid as a lump sum within 90 days of the

 

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  termination date if the termination is in connection with a Change in Control) and (d) the actual performance bonus, on a pro rata basis, that would have been payable to the executive for the fiscal year if the executive had not been terminated, (iii) in the case of termination by the Company on account of the executive’s Disability, continuation of base salary for a period of 12 months after the termination date and the actual performance bonus, on a pro rata basis, that would have been payable to the executive for the fiscal year if the executive had not been terminated, and (iv) in the case of termination by the executive due to the executive’s Poor Health or Death, the executive’s base salary through the termination date, plus any reimbursement owed to the executive for reasonable business expenses incurred through the date of termination , and the actual performance bonus, on a pro rata basis, that would have been payable to the executive for the fiscal year if the executive had not been terminated.
(3) Cash severance includes: (i) in the case of termination by the Company without Cause, (a) continuation of base salary through the termination date, plus any reimbursement owed to the executive for any reasonable business expenses incurred through the date of termination, (b) continuation of base salary for 18 months after the termination date, (c) the actual performance bonus, on a pro rata basis, that would have been payable to the executive for the fiscal year if the executive had not been terminated, and (d) the executive’s “average annual performance bonus” (as defined in the executive’s Employment Agreement), (ii) in the case of termination by the Executive for Good Reason, (a) continuation of base salary through the termination date, plus any reimbursement owed to the executive for any reasonable business expenses incurred through the date of termination, (b) continuation of base salary for 12 months after the termination date (18 months in the case of Good Reason Change in Control as defined in the Executive’s Employment Agreement), (c) the greater of the executive’s “average annual performance bonus” (as defined in the executive’s Employment Agreement) or his or her prior year’s performance bonus, on a pro rata basis, that would have been payable to the executive for the fiscal year if the executive had not been terminated, and (d) the actual performance bonus, on a pro rata basis, that would have been payable to the executive for the fiscal year if the executive had not been terminated, and (iii) in the case of termination by the Company on account of the executive’s Disability, the Company will pay the executive 50% of his or her base salary for a period of six months after the termination date and the actual performance bonus, on a pro rata basis, that would have been payable to the executive for the fiscal year if the executive had not been terminated, and (iv) in the case of termination by the executive due to the executive’s Poor Health or Death, the executive’s base salary through the termination date, plus any reimbursement owed to the executive for reasonable business expenses incurred through the date of termination and the actual performance bonus, on a pro rata basis, that would have been payable to the executive for the fiscal year if the executive had not been terminated.
(4) This amount reflects the value of each of the executive’s unvested restricted stock as of December 31, 2017, that would continue to vest until fully vested if a specified termination event had occurred on December 31, 2017. In the case of a Change in Control, the vesting of such unvested restricted stock is immediate whether or not the executive’s employment is terminated.
(5) If both a Change in Control occurred and the executive’s employment terminated on December 31, 2017, and the executive received the estimated payments shown in the Change in Control column of this table on that date, those payments would not have resulted in any excess parachute payment under Section 280G of the Code and thus no gross-up payments would have been required with respect to those payments. Whether or not a payment will constitute an “excess parachute payment,” however, depends not only upon the value of the payments that are contingent upon a Change in Control but also upon the average of an executive’s W-2 compensation for the five years immediately prior to the year in which the Change in Control occurs. Thus, facts and circumstances at the time of any Change in Control and termination thereafter, as well as changes in the executive’s compensation history preceding the Change in Control, could materially impact whether and to what extent any excise tax would be imposed and therefore the amount of any gross-up payment.
(6) This amount reflects the value of each of the executive’s unvested restricted stock as of December 31, 2017, that would continue to vest until fully vested if a specified termination event had occurred on December 31, 2017. Other than as determined by the Compensation Committee for any particular grant, in the case of a Change in Control, the vesting of such unvested restricted stock is immediate in the case of termination by the Company without Cause or by the executive for Good Reason following a Change in Control, or in the event that termination by the executive for Good Reason related to a diminution in duties following a Change in Control occurs within the 24-month period of a Change in Control, any unvested restricted stock will automatically vest.
(7) If Dr. Medel’s employment is terminated for any reason, the Company will reimburse Dr. Medel for mutually agreed upon lease space and reasonable wages to an administrative assistant for two years from his date of termination. This amount represents the approximate cost of lease space and reasonable wages to an administrative assistant for two years.
(8) If the executive is terminated for Cause, then the Company will continue to pay the executive his or her base salary through the termination date plus any reimbursement owed to the executive for any reasonable business expenses incurred through the date of termination.

 

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CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER PAY RATIO

Our CEO’s annual total compensation for 2017 was $7,365,508, as reflected in the Summary Compensation Table included in this Proxy Statement. The calculation of annual total compensation of all employees, excluding our CEO, as of December 31, 2017 was determined using 2017 W-2 compensation, on an annualized basis for full-time employees who were not employed by us for all of 2017. Our median employee’s annual total compensation for 2017 was $91,192. As a result, we estimate that our CEO’s 2017 annual total compensation was approximately 81 times that of our median employee.

 

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DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

Each non-employee Director receives the following compensation for their service: (i) an annual retainer fee of $65,000, payable quarterly, (ii) an annual fee of $7,500 for attendance at meetings, payable quarterly, (iii) an additional annual retainer fee of $50,000, payable quarterly, for the Chairman of the Board of Directors and an additional annual retainer fee of $25,000, payable quarterly, for the Lead Independent Director, (iv) an additional annual retainer fee of $20,000, payable quarterly, for the chair of the Audit Committee, and (v) an additional annual retainer fee of $10,000 per committee, payable quarterly, for the chair of any committee of the Board of Directors other than the Audit Committee. In addition, each year, each non-employee Director is granted restricted stock with a grant date fair value of $127,500, vesting in equal annual increments over a three-year period commencing on the anniversary of the date of grant.

The Board of Directors’ policy for awarding restricted stock also applies to each non-employee Director upon his or her initial election or appointment to the Board of Directors. The grant date fair value of the award will be $200,000 with a three-year vesting period. We provide grants of equity to our Directors because we believe that it helps foster a long-term perspective and aligns our Directors’ interests with that of our shareholders. All non-management members of our Board of Directors are required to own MEDNAX common stock worth three times their annual base cash retainer fee. MEDNAX also reimburses all of its Directors for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the rendering of services as a Director.

The following table includes all non-employee Directors who served in 2017. Dr. Medel does not earn additional income for his service as a Director.

 

Name

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

Cesar L. Alvarez

   $ 122,500      $ 127,527      $ —        $ 250,027  

Manuel Kadre

   $ 107,500      $ 127,527      $ —        $ 235,027  

Karey D. Barker

   $ 72,500      $ 127,527      $ —        $ 200,027  

Waldemar A. Carlo, M.D.

   $ 82,500      $ 127,527      $ —        $ 210,027  

Michael B. Fernandez

   $ 72,500      $ 127,527      $ —        $ 200,027  

Paul G. Gabos

   $ 92,500      $ 127,527      $ —        $ 220,027  

Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D.

   $ 82,500      $ 127,527      $ —        $ 210,027  

Donna E. Shalala, Ph.D.

   $ 72,500      $ 127,527      $ —        $ 200,027  

Enrique J. Sosa, Ph.D.

   $ 72,500      $ 127,527      $ —        $ 200,027  

 

(1) This column reports the amount of cash compensation earned in 2017 for Board and committee service.
(2) The amounts in this column reflect the grant-date fair value of the restricted stock awards, calculated in accordance with the accounting guidance for equity-based compensation, but excluding the impact of estimated forfeitures. The following Directors had outstanding stock option awards and restricted stock awards, respectively, at the end of fiscal year 2017: Mr. Alvarez (28,870 and 4,147), Mr. Kadre (-0- and 4,147), Ms. Barker (-0- and 4,490), Dr. Carlo (35,786 and 4,147), Mr. Fernandez (-0- and 4,147), Mr. Gabos (18,202 and 4,147), Dr. Goldschmidt (-0- and 4,147), Dr. Shalala (28,634 and 4,147) and Dr. Sosa (46,454 and 4,147).

 

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SHARE OWNERSHIP INFORMATION

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires MEDNAX’s Directors and executive officers, and persons who own more than 10% of our common stock, to file with the SEC reports of ownership and changes in ownership of our common stock. Our Directors, executive officers and greater than 10% shareholders are also required by rules promulgated by the SEC to furnish MEDNAX with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.

Based solely on a review of the copies of such reports furnished to MEDNAX, the absence of a Form 3, 4 or 5, or representations from certain reporting persons that no Forms 5 were required, MEDNAX believes that all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to its Directors, officers and greater than 10% beneficial owners were complied with during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

The following table sets forth information concerning the beneficial ownership of common stock of MEDNAX as of March 12, 2018, for the following:

 

   

Each person known to us to be a beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding shares of common stock;

 

   

Each of our Directors;

 

   

Our Chief Executive Officer and our other NEOs; and

 

   

All of our Directors and executive officers as a group.

 

Name of Beneficial Owner (1)

   Common Stock Beneficially Owned (2)  
       Shares              Percent      

T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (3)

     9,907,689        10.5

The Vanguard Group (4)

     7,862,177        8.3

BlackRock, Inc. (5)

     7,740,542        8.2

Roger J. Medel, M.D. (6)

     1,441,829        1.5

Cesar L. Alvarez (7)

     64,767        *  

Karey D. Barker (8)

     9,362        *  

Waldemar A. Carlo, M.D. (9)

     51,683        *  

Michael B. Fernandez (10)

     96,589        *  

Paul G. Gabos (11)

     34,099        *  

Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D. (12).

     20,422        *  

Manuel Kadre (13)

     115,897        *  

Enrique J. Sosa, Ph.D. (14)

     62,351        *  

Joseph M. Calabro (15)

     354,933        *  

Vivian Lopez-Blanco (16)

     147,985        *  

David A. Clark (17)

     44,452        *  

Dominic J. Andreano (18)

     47,039        *  

All Directors and executive officers as a group (14 persons) (19)

     2,534,124        2.7

 

* Less than one percent
(1) Unless otherwise specified, the address of each of the beneficial owners identified is c/o MEDNAX, Inc., 1301 Concord Terrace, Sunrise, Florida 33323. Each holder is a beneficial owner of common stock of MEDNAX.
(2)

Based on 94,382,958 shares of common stock issued and outstanding as of March 12, 2018. The number and percentage of shares beneficially owned is determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act and the information is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Under that rule, beneficial ownership includes any shares as to which the individual or entity has voting power or investment power and any shares that the individual or entity has the right to acquire within 60 days of March 12, 2018, through the exercise of any stock option or other

 

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  right. Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes or table, each individual or entity has sole voting and investment power, or shares such powers with his or her spouse, with respect to the shares shown as beneficially owned.
(3) Based on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 14, 2018. T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.’s address is 100 E. Pratt Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202.
(4) Based on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 9, 2018. The Vanguard Group’s address is 100 Vanguard Boulevard, Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355.
(5)

Based on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on January 25, 2018. BlackRock, Inc.’s address is 55 East 52nd Street, New York, New York 10055.

(6) Includes (i) 1,103,700 shares of common stock directly owned; and (ii) 338,129 shares of unvested performance shares and restricted stock which Dr. Medel presently has the power to vote.
(7) Includes (i) 29,400 shares of common stock directly owned; (ii) 28,870 shares of common stock subject to options exercisable within 60 days of March 12, 2018; and (iii) 6,497 shares of unvested restricted stock which Mr. Alvarez presently has the power to vote.
(8) Includes (i) 2,522 shares of common stock directly owned; and (ii) 6,840 shares of unvested restricted stock which Ms. Barker presently has the power to vote.
(9) Includes (i) 9,400 shares of common stock directly owned; (ii) 35,786 shares of common stock subject to options exercisable within 60 days of March 12, 2018; and (iii) 6,497 shares of unvested restricted stock which Dr. Carlo presently has the power to vote.
(10) Includes (i) 67,772 shares of common stock directly owned; (ii) 22,320 shares of common stock beneficially owned through a self-directed IRA; and (iii) 6,497 shares of unvested restricted stock which Mr. Fernandez presently has the power to vote.
(11) Includes (i) 9,400 shares of common stock directly owned; (ii) 18,202 shares of common stock subject to options exercisable within 60 days of March 12, 2018; and (iii) 6,497 shares of unvested restricted stock which Mr. Gabos presently has the power to vote.
(12) Includes (i) 13,925 shares of common stock directly owned; and (ii) 6,497 shares of unvested restricted stock which Dr. Goldschmidt presently has the power to vote.
(13) Includes (i) 109,400 shares of common stock directly owned; and (ii) 6,497 shares of unvested restricted stock which Mr. Kadre presently has the power to vote.
(14) Includes (i) 9,400 shares of common stock directly owned; (ii) 46,454 shares of common stock subject to options exercisable within 60 days of March 12, 2018; and (iii) 6,497 shares of unvested restricted stock which Dr. Sosa presently has the power to vote.
(15) Includes (i) 146,508 shares of common stock directly owned; and (ii) 208,425 shares of unvested performance shares and restricted stock which Mr. Calabro presently has the power to vote.
(16) Includes (i) 27,948 shares of common stock directly owned; (ii) 3,626 shares of common stock directly owned that were acquired through the Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan; (iii) 40,000 shares of common stock subject to options exercisable within 60 days of March 12, 2018; and (iv) 76,411 shares of unvested performance shares and restricted stock which Ms. Lopez-Blanco presently has the power to vote.
(17) Includes (i) 44,452 shares of unvested performance shares and restricted stock which Mr. Clark presently has the power to vote.
(18) Includes (i) 9,610 shares of common stock directly owned; (ii) 1,342 shares of common stock directly owned that were acquired through the Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan; (iii) 6,000 shares of common stock subject to options exercisable within 60 days of March 12, 2018; and (iv) 30,087 shares of unvested performance shares and restricted stock which Mr. Andreano presently has the power to vote.
(19) Includes (i) 1,554,713 shares of common stock directly owned; (ii) 181,312 shares of common stock subject to options exercisable within 60 days of March 12, 2018; and (iii) 761,140 shares of unvested performance shares and restricted stock which certain executive officers presently have the power to vote.

 

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INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

Independent Auditors

MEDNAX’s independent auditor for the year ended December 31, 2017, was the firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Subject to shareholder ratification, the Audit Committee has reappointed PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm to perform audit services for MEDNAX in 2018. MEDNAX expects that representatives of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP will attend the annual meeting. They will have an opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

Fees Paid to Independent Auditors

The aggregate fees billed by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for the indicated services rendered during fiscal years 2017 and 2016 were as follows:

Audit Fees

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP billed MEDNAX $1,570,750, in the aggregate, for professional services for the audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements and internal control over financial reporting for the year ended December 31, 2017, reviews of MEDNAX’s interim consolidated financial statements, which are included in each of MEDNAX’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the year ended December 31, 2017, the statutory audit of MEDNAX’s wholly owned captive insurance subsidiary and the review of certain SEC filings. During 2016, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP billed MEDNAX $1,545,879, in the aggregate, for professional services for the audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements and internal control over financial reporting for the year ended December 31, 2016, reviews of MEDNAX’s interim consolidated financial statements, which are included in each of MEDNAX’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the year ended December 31, 2016 and the statutory audit of MEDNAX’s wholly owned captive insurance subsidiary.

Audit-Related Fees

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP did not bill MEDNAX for any audit-related fees in 2017 or 2016.

Tax Fees

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP did not bill MEDNAX for any tax services in 2017 or 2016.

All Other Fees

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP did not bill MEDNAX for any other services in 2017 or 2016.

Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

The Audit Committee is required to review and approve the proposed retention of independent auditors to perform any proposed auditing and non-auditing services as outlined in its charter. The Audit Committee has not established policies and procedures separate from its charter concerning the pre-approval of auditing and non-auditing related services. As required by Section 10A of the Exchange Act, our Audit Committee has authorized all auditing and non-auditing services provided by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP during 2017 and the fees paid for such services.

 

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PROPOSAL 2: RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

The Audit Committee has selected and appointed the firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to act as our independent registered public accounting firm for the 2018 fiscal year. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP was our independent auditor for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017. Although ratification is not required by our bylaws or otherwise, the Board of Directors is submitting the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to our shareholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. If the appointment is not ratified, the Audit Committee will re-evaluate its appointment, taking into consideration our shareholders’ vote. However, the Audit Committee is solely responsible for the appointment and termination of our auditors and may do so at any time in its discretion.

Proxies will be voted “FOR” ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the 2018 fiscal year absent contrary instructions.

MEDNAX’s Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the 2018 fiscal year.

 

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PROPOSAL 3: ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

As required by Section 14A of the Exchange Act, MEDNAX is providing its shareholders the opportunity to cast a non-binding advisory vote “FOR” or “AGAINST” the compensation paid to named executive officers in 2017 as disclosed and described in the “Executive Compensation: Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section of this Proxy Statement, including the section entitled “Overview of the Executive Compensation Program,” the compensation tables and the narrative disclosures that accompany the compensation tables.

As described in detail in our “Executive Compensation: Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section of this Proxy Statement, the compensation tables and related narrative discussion, the compensation of executive officers is designed to have strong links to performance achievements, both in terms of operational and financial results as well as in optimizing shareholder value. We evaluate the relationship between compensation cost, shareholder value and company performance on a regular basis. At-risk elements such as performance-based cash incentives and equity-based compensation comprise a significant portion of our overall executive remuneration. For incentive plans, we establish performance goals so that the level of compensation received appropriately corresponds to the level of performance achieved. In addition, the vesting of equity-based compensation is designed to encourage ownership that results in business decisions that build long-term shareholder value and thus stock price appreciation, and retention of our named executive officers. We believe that the compensation paid to our named executive officers for 2017 appropriately considers our demonstrated ability to increase revenue and profitability over the long-term as a result of the continued leadership of these named executive officers. The introduction of performance shares with rigorous financial goals in 2014 and the continued use of such awards since that time and in 2017 further aligns executive pay with Company performance and our clawback policy, required minimum share ownership for our executive officers and enhanced anti-hedging policies further align executive compensation with our shareholders’ long-term interests.

Shareholders are urged to read the section entitled “Executive Compensation: Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” which discusses our executive compensation programs in detail, as well as the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” appearing in our 2017 Annual Report that accompanies this Proxy Statement.

Accordingly, MEDNAX requests your approval of the following resolution:

RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers, as disclosed pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC, including the section entitled “Executive Compensation: Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” compensation tables and related narrative discussion, is hereby APPROVED.

MEDNAX’s Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” the approval of the compensation paid to its named executive officers as disclosed pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and described in the section entitled “Executive Compensation: Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” including the compensation tables and the related narrative discussion.

Although the vote is non-binding and advisory, the Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee will review the voting results in connection with their ongoing evaluation of the Company’s compensation program.

 

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OTHER BUSINESS

The Board of Directors knows of no other business to be brought before the annual meeting. If, however, any other business should properly come before the annual meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying proxy card to vote the shares they represent in accordance with the recommendation of MEDNAX’s Board of Directors.

AVAILABILITY OF ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

Copies of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 (without exhibits or documents incorporated by reference therein) are available without charge to shareholders upon written request to Investor Relations at 1301 Concord Terrace, Sunrise, Florida 33323, by calling (954) 384-0175 or via the Internet at www.mednax.com.

INFORMATION CONCERNING SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

As more specifically provided in our Articles of Incorporation, no business may be brought before an annual meeting unless it is specified in the notice of the meeting or is otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of our Board of Directors or by a shareholder entitled to vote who has delivered proper notice to us, together with the information required by our Articles of Incorporation, not less than 120 days nor more than 180 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s notice of annual meeting. Accordingly, any shareholder proposal to be considered at the 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders must be properly submitted to us on or before November 23, 2018, but not earlier than September 24, 2018, or such proposal will be considered untimely. A copy of the provision of MEDNAX’s Articles of Incorporation relating to shareholder nominations is available upon request from MEDNAX’s Secretary at 1301 Concord Terrace, Sunrise, Florida 33323. These requirements are separate from the SEC’s requirements that a shareholder must meet in order to have a shareholder proposal included in our Proxy Statement for the 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

Shareholders interested in submitting a proposal for inclusion in our proxy materials for the 2019 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting may do so by following the procedures set forth in Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act and MEDNAX’s Articles of Incorporation. To be eligible for inclusion in such proxy materials, shareholder proposals must be received by our Secretary, at the address noted above, not later than November 23, 2018. No shareholder proposal was properly received for inclusion in this Proxy Statement.

 

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LOGO

1301 Concord Terrace

Sunrise, Florida 33323-2825


Table of Contents

 

LOGO

MEDNAX, INC.

1301 CONCORD TERRACE

SUNRISE, FL 33323-2825

 

 

VOTE BY INTERNET - www.proxyvote.com

Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 P.M. EDT on May 15, 2018. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form.

 

ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE PROXY MATERIALS

If you would like to reduce the costs incurred by our company in mailing proxy materials, you can consent to receiving all future proxy statements, proxy cards and annual reports electronically via e-mail or the Internet. To sign up for electronic delivery, please follow the instructions above to vote using the Internet and, when prompted, indicate that you agree to receive or access proxy materials electronically in future years.

 

 

VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903

  Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 P.M. EDT on May 15, 2018. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions.
 

 

VOTE BY MAIL

  Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717.

 

TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS:

E39185-P04396-Z71948                     KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS

   DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY
THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED.

 

                   

MEDNAX, INC.

 

The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR the following:

  For All    Withhold  All   For All   Except        To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark "For All Except" and write the number(s) of the nominee(s) on the line below.            
                                  
     
    1.     Election of Directors           

 

             
     

 

Nominees:

                          
     

 

01)    Cesar L. Alvarez

      06)    P. J. Goldschmidt, M.D.                       
      02)    Karey D. Barker       07)    Manuel Kadre                       
      03)    Waldemar A. Carlo, M.D.       08)    Roger J. Medel, M.D.                       
      04)    Michael B. Fernandez       09)    Enrique J. Sosa, Ph.D.                       
      05)    Paul G. Gabos                         
   
    The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR proposals 2 and 3.     For    Against    Abstain    
   
    2.   Proposal to ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered certified public accounting firm for the 2018 fiscal year.            
   
    3.  

Proposal to approve, by non-binding advisory vote, the compensation of our named executive officers.

 

         
   
               
   
                                
   
    For Address Changes/Comments, please check this box and write them on the back where indicated.                       
   

 

Please indicate if you plan to attend this meeting.

        ☐                   
            Yes         No                   
    Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) hereon. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, or other fiduciary, please give full title as such. Joint owners should each sign personally. All holders must sign. If a corporation or partnership, please sign in full corporate or partnership name by authorized officer.                 
                      
                 
                                                
     Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX]   Date                  Signature (Joint Owners)     Date                  


Table of Contents

 

 

 

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

The Notice and Proxy Statement and Annual Report are available at www.proxyvote.com.

 

 

 

 

 

E39186-P04396-Z71948

 

       
   

MEDNAX, INC.

Annual Meeting of Shareholders

May 16, 2018 9:30 AM EDT

This proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors

 

The shareholder(s) hereby appoint(s) Roger J. Medel, M.D., Dominic J. Andreano and Vivian Lopez-Blanco, or any of them, as proxies, each with the power to appoint his or her substitute, and hereby authorize(s) them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse side of this ballot and upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting, all of the shares of Common Stock of MEDNAX, Inc. that the shareholder(s) is/are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at 9:30 AM, EDT, on Wednesday, May 16, 2018, at the DoubleTree Sunrise, 13400 W. Sunrise Blvd., Sunrise, Florida 33323, and any adjournment or postponement thereof.

 

This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein. If no such direction is made, this proxy will be voted in accordance with the Board of Directors' recommendations.

 

      
         
    Address Changes/Comments:  

 

        
       
   

 

        
       
              
    (If you noted any Address Changes/Comments above, please mark corresponding box on the reverse side.)       
   

 

Continued and to be signed on reverse side