The Chair (or in his or her absence, a member designated by the Chair) shall preside at each meeting of the Committee and set the agendas for Committee meetings. The Committee shall have the authority to establish its own rules and procedures for notice and conduct of its meetings so long as they are not inconsistent with any provisions of the Company's bylaws that are applicable to the Committee.
The Committee shall meet on a regularly scheduled basis at least two times per year and more frequently as the Committee deems necessary or desirable.
All non-management directors who are not members of the Committee may attend and observe meetings of the Committee, but shall not participate in any discussion or deliberation unless invited to do so by the Committee, and in any event shall not be entitled to vote. The Committee may, at its discretion, include in its meetings members of the Company's management, representatives of the independent auditor, the internal auditor, any other financial personnel employed or retained by the Company, legal counsel or any other person whose presence the Committee believes to be necessary or appropriate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Chief Executive Officer may not be present during voting or deliberations concerning his or her compensation, and the Committee may exclude from its meetings any persons it deems appropriate, including but not limited to, any non-management director who is not a member of the Committee.
The Committee shall have the sole authority, as it deems appropriate, to retain and/or replace, as needed, any independent counsel, compensation and benefits consultants and other outside experts or advisers as the Committee believes to be necessary or appropriate. The Committee may also utilize the services of the Company's regular legal counsel or other advisors to the Company. The Company shall provide for appropriate funding, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, for payment of compensation to any such persons retained by the Committee.
The Chair shall report to the Board following meetings of the Committee and as otherwise requested by the Chairman of the Board.
1. The Committee shall, at least annually, review the compensation philosophy of the Company.
2. The Committee shall, at least annually, (i) review and approve the corporate goals and objectives relating to the compensation of the Company's Chief Executive Officer, (ii) evaluate the performance of the Chief Executive Officer in light of those goals and objectives and (iii) determine and approve the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer based on such evaluation.
3. The Committee shall, at least annually, review and approve all elements of compensation for all other officers (as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1, promulgated under the 1934 Act), directors and all such categories of other employees of the Company or its subsidiaries with a base salary greater than or equal to $400,000.
4. The Committee shall (i) make recommendations to the Board with respect to the compensation of non-officers and (ii) review and approve or make recommendations to the Board regarding all officers' employment agreements and severance arrangements.
5. The Committee shall manage, review and approve all annual bonus, long-term incentive compensation, stock option, employee pension and welfare benefit plans (including 401(k), employee stock purchase plan, long-term incentive plan, management incentive plan and others), and with respect to each plan shall have responsibility for:
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general administration;
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setting the performance targets under all annual bonus and long-term incentive compensation plans as appropriate and committing to writing any and all performance targets for all officers and employees who may be "covered employees" under Section 162(m) of the Code within the first 90 days of the performance period to which such target relates or, if shorter, within the period provided by Section 162(m) of the Code in order for such target to be "pre-established" within the meaning of Section 162(m);
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certifying that any and all performance targets used for any performance-based equity compensation plans have been met before payment of any officer bonus or compensation or exercise of any officer award granted under any such plan(s);
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approving or recommending to the Board all amendments to, and terminations of, all compensation plans and any awards under such plans;
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granting any awards under any performance-based annual bonus, long-term incentive compensation and equity compensation, including stock options and other equity rights (e.g., restricted stock, stock purchase rights);
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approving which employees or consultants are entitled to awards under the Company's stock option plan(s); and
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repurchasing securities from terminated employees.
All periodic plan reviews should include reviewing the plan's administrative costs, reviewing current plan features relative to any proposed new features, and assessing the performance of the plan's internal and external administrators if any duties have been delegated. In undertaking these reviews, the Committee shall take into account factors that it deems appropriate from time to time, including the Company's business strategy, while incorporating an appropriate balance between risk and reward.
6. The Committee shall establish and periodically review policies concerning perquisite benefits.
7. The Committee shall periodically review the need for a Company policy regarding compensation paid to the officers in excess of limits deductible under Section 162(m) of the Code.
8. The Committee shall determine the Company's policy with respect to change of control or "parachute" payments.
9. The Committee shall manage and review officer and director indemnification and insurance matters.
10. The Committee shall manage and review any employee loans in an amount equal to or greater than $25,000.
11. The Committee shall review the CD&A section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K or in the Company's proxy statement, discuss the disclosure with management and determine whether to recommend to the Board whether the CD&A be included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K or in the Company's proxy statement, as applicable.
12. The Committee shall prepare and approve the Compensation Committee report to be included as part of the Company's annual proxy statement.
13. The Committee shall take into account the results of previous stockholder advisory votes on executive compensation (among other factors that it deems relevant) in determining compensation policies and decisions for executive officers.
14. The Committee shall take into account the results of previous stockholder advisory votes on the frequency of stockholder advisory votes on executive compensation (among other factors that it deems relevant) in making recommendations to the Board of Directors on the determination of the frequency of stockholder advisory votes on executive compensation.
15. The Committee shall, at least annually, review and approve an annual risk assessment of the Company's compensation policies and practices.
16. The Committee shall evaluate its own performance on an annual basis, including its compliance with this Charter, and provide any written material with respect to such evaluation to the Board, including any recommendations for changes in procedures or policies governing the Committee. The Committee shall conduct such evaluation and review in such manner as it deems appropriate.
17. The Committee shall have responsibility to consider the following independence factors among other factors that it may deem relevant before selecting, or receiving advice from, a compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser, other than in-house legal counsel:
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the provision of other services to the Company by the person that employs the adviser (the "Employer");
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the amount of fees received from the Company by the Employer, as a percentage of the total revenue of the Employer;
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the policies and procedures of the Employer that are designed to prevent conflicts of interest;
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any business or personal relationship of the adviser with a member of the Committee;
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any stock of the Company owned by the adviser, and
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any business or personal relationship of the adviser or the Employer with an executive officer of the Company.
18. The Committee shall review and reassess the adequacy of this Charter at least annually and submit any recommended changes to the Board for its consideration.