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TABLE OF CONTENTS
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant ý | ||
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o |
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Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Definitive Additional Materials |
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Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12 |
KAR AUCTION SERVICES, INC. | ||||
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) |
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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant) |
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April 25, 2017
Dear Fellow Stockholder:
Thank you for your continued investment in and support of KAR Auction Services, Inc. ("KAR" or the "Company"). I am pleased to invite you to attend KAR's 2017 annual meeting of stockholders. The meeting will be held on June 5, 2017, at 9:00 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time, at the Renaissance Indianapolis North Hotel, 11925 North Meridian Street, Carmel, Indiana 46032.
As a KAR stockholder, your vote is important. The matters to be acted upon are described in the notice of annual meeting of stockholders and the proxy statement. Even if you are planning to attend the annual meeting in person, you are strongly encouraged to vote your shares in advance through one of the methods described in the proxy statement.
I am pleased to report that KAR had a very successful 2016. We grew revenue, adjusted EBITDA and operating adjusted net income and surpassed the 5 million vehicles sold mark for the first time in our Company's history. As an established market leader with an experienced management team and diverse portfolio of complementary assets and businesses, we believe we are well-positioned for continued growth with solid operating performance and disciplined capital investments.
We have a comprehensive capital allocation plan for increasing stockholder value. We are focused on return of capital to our stockholders and accretive investments in the business, including the acquisition of auctions and complementary capabilities in North America and internationally, expanding our data analytic capabilities, and enhancing our technology platform. We are proud that through share buybacks and dividends, in 2016 we returned approximately $237 million to stockholders and invested approximately $587 million in our business through capital expenditures and strategic acquisitions.
Thank you again for your continued support of KAR, our Board of Directors, our employees and our future.
Sincerely,
James P. Hallett
Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
This proxy statement is dated April 25, 2017 and is first being distributed to stockholders on or about April 25, 2017.
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13085 Hamilton Crossing Boulevard
Carmel, Indiana 46032
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS |
Time and Date | 9:00 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time, on June 5, 2017 | |
Place | Renaissance Indianapolis North Hotel 11925 North Meridian Street Carmel, Indiana 46032 |
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Items of Business | Proposal No. 1: To elect nine directors to the Board of Directors. | |
Proposal No. 2: To approve, on an advisory basis, executive compensation. |
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Proposal No. 3: To approve, on an advisory basis, the frequency of future votes to approve executive compensation. |
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Proposal No. 4: To ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2017. |
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To transact any other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof. |
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Record Date | You are entitled to vote at the 2017 annual meeting and at any adjournments or postponements thereof if you were a stockholder of record at the close of business on April 13, 2017. | |
Voting by Proxy | Please submit your proxy card as soon as possible so that your shares can be voted at the 2017 annual meeting in accordance with your instructions. For specific instructions on voting, please refer to the instructions on your enclosed proxy card. | |
On Behalf of the Board of Directors, | ||
April 25, 2017 Carmel, Indiana |
Rebecca C. Polak Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary |
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Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting
The proxy statement for the 2017 annual meeting and the annual report to stockholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, each of which is being provided to stockholders prior to or concurrently with this notice, are also available to you electronically via the internet. We encourage you to review all of the important information contained in the proxy materials before voting. To view the proxy statement and annual report to stockholders on the internet, visit the "Investor Relations" page of our website, under the "Proxy Material" link at www.karauctionservices.com.
TABLE OF CONTENTS |
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This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this proxy statement. This summary does not contain all of the information that you should consider, and you should read the entire proxy statement before voting. For more complete information regarding KAR Auction Services, Inc.'s (the "Company," "KAR" or "KAR Auction Services") 2016 performance, please review the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.
Date and Time: | 9:00 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time, on June 5, 2017 | |
Location: | Renaissance Indianapolis North Hotel 11925 North Meridian Street Carmel, Indiana 46032 |
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Record Date: | Stockholders of record as of the close of business on April 13, 2017 are entitled to vote. Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote for each director nominee and for each of the other proposals to be voted on at the 2017 annual meeting of stockholders. On the record date, KAR Auction Services had 137,146,721 shares of common stock issued and outstanding. | |
NYSE Symbol: | KAR | |
Registrar and Transfer Agent: |
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC |
Proposal | Our Board's Recommendation |
Page | ||||
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1. | Election of each of the nine director nominees |
FOR each director nominee |
6 | |||
2. | Approve, on an advisory basis, executive compensation | FOR | 24 | |||
3. | Approve, on an advisory basis, the frequency of future votes to approve executive compensation |
FOR every year |
25 | |||
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4. | Ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2017 | FOR | 59 |
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1 |
Name |
Age |
Director Since |
Independent |
Primary Occupation |
Committee Membership** |
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Todd F. Bourell | 47 | 2015 | Yes | Managing Partner of WLJ Capital, LLC | CC, NCGC | |||||
Donna R. Ecton |
70 |
2013 |
Yes |
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of EEI Inc. |
CC (Chair), AC |
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James P. Hallett |
64 |
2007 |
No |
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of KAR Auction Services, Inc. |
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Mark E. Hill |
61 |
2014 |
Yes |
Managing Partner of Collina Ventures, LLC |
NCGC (Chair), RC |
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J. Mark Howell |
52 |
2014 |
Yes |
Chief Operating Officer of Angie's List, Inc. |
RC (Chair), AC |
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Lynn Jolliffe |
65 |
2014 |
Yes |
Human Capital and Talent Management Consultant |
CC, NCGC |
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Michael T. Kestner |
63 |
2013 |
Yes |
Building Products and Automotive Industry Consultant |
AC (Chair), RC |
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John P. Larson* |
54 |
2014 |
Yes |
Chief Executive Officer of Bestop, Inc. |
CC, RC |
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Stephen E. Smith |
68 |
2013 |
Yes |
Automotive Industry Consultant |
AC, NCGC |
*
Lead Independent Director
** AC=Audit Committee; CC=Compensation Committee; RC=Risk
Committee; NCGC=Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
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2 |
For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company again delivered solid growth in volume of total vehicles sold, revenues, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income. Specific highlights for fiscal 2016 included:
The closing stock price of KAR's common stock rose approximately 15% from $37.03 at December 31, 2015 to $42.62 at December 30, 2016. The closing price shown below for each year is the closing price of a share of the Company's common stock on the last trading day of each year.
Net revenue was up 17% to over $3.1 billion. |
Total vehicles sold by ADESA, Inc. ("ADESA") and Insurance Auto Auctions, Inc. ("IAA") rose approximately 14% to 5.1 million units. |
Net income increased 3.6% from $214.6 million ($1.51 per diluted share) to $222.4 million ($1.60 per diluted share).
Through share buybacks and dividends, in 2016 we returned approximately $237 million to stockholders and invested approximately $587 million in our business through capital expenditures and strategic acquisitions. |
Adjusted EBITDA* rose 15% to approximately $748 million. |
* Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure and is defined and reconciled to the most comparable GAAP measure, net income, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 in Item 7, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of OperationsEBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA."
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3 |
We are committed to high standards of ethical and business conduct and strong corporate governance practices. This commitment is highlighted by the practices described below as well as the information contained on our website at www.karauctionservices.com on the "Investor Relations" page under the link "Corporate Governance".
Annual Elections: Our directors are elected annually for one year terms. | ||
Majority Voting: We maintain a majority voting standard for uncontested director elections with a policy for directors to tender their resignation should a majority of the votes cast not be in their favor. |
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Director and Committee Independence: Eight of our nine director nominees are independent, and all committees of our Board of Directors (the "Board") are comprised entirely of independent directors. |
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Executive Sessions: Our independent directors meet in executive session at each regularly scheduled Board meeting. |
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Lead Independent Director: We have a lead independent director who presides over the executive sessions of the independent directors and serves as the principal liaison between the independent directors and the Company's CEO and Chairman of the Board. |
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Board Diversity: More than twenty percent of our Board is comprised of women. |
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Annual Board and Committee Evaluations: The Board and each committee evaluates its performance each year. |
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Robust Equity Ownership Requirements for Non-Employee Directors: The stock ownership guideline for our non-employee directors is three times their annual cash retainer. |
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Robust Equity Retention Requirements for Non-Employee Directors: All shares of our common stock granted to non-employee directors must be held for four years after the grant while serving as a director and for six months after serving as a director. |
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Robust Equity Ownership Requirements for Executive Officers: We have stock ownership guidelines that are applicable to our executive officers. The stock ownership guideline for our CEO is five times his annual base salary. Executive officers are required to hold 60% of vested shares, net of taxes, until stock ownership guidelines are met. |
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Anti-Hedging and Pledging Policies: Our directors and executive officers are prohibited from hedging or pledging Company stock. |
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Annual management and CEO evaluation and succession planning review: Our Board conducts an annual evaluation and review of the CEO and each executive officer's performance, development and succession plan. |
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Board Risk Oversight: The Risk Committee assists the Board in its oversight of: (i) the principal business, financial, technology and operational risks and other material risks and exposures of the Company; and (ii) the actions, activities and initiatives of the Company to mitigate such risks and exposures. The Risk Committee provides oversight with respect to risk practices implemented by management, except for the oversight of risks that have been specifically delegated to another committee of the Board (in which case the Risk Committee may maintain oversight over such risks through the receipt of reports from such committees). |
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4 |
We maintain a compensation program structured to achieve a close connection between executive pay and Company performance. We believe that this strong pay-for-performance orientation has served us well in recent years. For more information regarding our named executive officer compensation, see "Compensation Discussion and Analysis" and the compensation tables that follow such section.
WHAT WE DO
WHAT WE DON'T DO
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5 |
Our Board has nominated the nine individuals named below to stand for election to the Board at the 2017 annual meeting. The Company's directors are elected each year by the stockholders at the annual meeting. We do not have a staggered or classified board. Each director's term will last until the 2018 annual meeting of stockholders and until such director's successor is duly elected and qualified, or such director's earlier death, resignation or removal. Each director nominee must receive the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast in the election of directors at the 2017 annual meeting to be elected (i.e., the number of shares voted "FOR" a director nominee must exceed the number of votes cast "AGAINST" such nominee).
The Board is responsible for determining the independence of our directors. Under the NYSE listing standards, a director qualifies as independent if the Board affirmatively determines that the director has no material relationship with us. While the focus of the inquiry is independence from management, the Board is required to broadly consider all relevant facts and circumstances in making an independence determination. Based upon its evaluation, our Board has affirmatively determined that the following directors and director nominees meet the standards of "independence" established by the NYSE: Todd F. Bourell, Donna R. Ecton, Mark E. Hill, J. Mark Howell, Lynn Jolliffe, Michael T. Kestner, John P. Larson and Stephen E. Smith. James P. Hallett, our CEO and Chairman of the Board, is not an independent director.
The Board is responsible for nominating members for election to the Board and for filling vacancies on the Board that may occur between the annual meetings of stockholders. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for identifying, screening and recommending candidates to the Board for Board membership. When formulating its Board membership recommendations, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may also consider advice and recommendations from others, including stockholders, as it deems appropriate.
As detailed in both the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Charter and the Corporate Governance Guidelines, Board candidates also are selected based upon various criteria including experience, skills, expertise, diversity, personal and professional integrity, character, business judgment, time availability in light of other commitments, dedication, conflicts of interest and such other relevant factors that the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers appropriate in the context of the needs of the Board. Board members are expected to prepare for, attend and participate in all Board and applicable committee meetings and the Company's annual meetings of stockholders.
In accordance with its charter, the Board also considers candidates for election as a director of the Company recommended by any stockholder, provided that the recommending stockholder follows the procedures set forth in Section 5 of the Company's Second Amended and Restated By-Laws for nominations by stockholders of persons to serve as directors, including the requirements of timely notice and certain information to be included in such notice. Though the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee does not have a formal policy regarding consideration of director candidates recommended by stockholders, the Board generally evaluates such candidates in the same manner by which it evaluates other director candidates considered by the Board. Deadlines for stockholder nominations for next year's annual meeting are included in the "Requirements, Including Deadlines, for Submission of Proxy Proposals" section on page 64.
An employment agreement entered into on February 27, 2012, between the Company and James P. Hallett, the Company's CEO and Chairman of the Board, provides that Mr. Hallett shall be entitled to serve as a member of the Board for so long as the employment agreement is in effect.
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6 |
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board believe that diversity along multiple dimensions, including opinions, skills, perspectives, personal and professional experiences and other differentiating characteristics, is an important element of its nomination recommendations. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has not identified any specific minimum qualifications which must be met for a person to be considered as a candidate for director. However, Board candidates are selected based upon various criteria including experience, skills, expertise, diversity, personal and professional integrity, character, business judgment, time availability in light of other commitments, dedication, conflicts of interest and such other relevant factors that the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers appropriate in the context of the needs of the Board. Although the Board does not have a formal diversity policy, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and Board review these factors, including diversity, in considering candidates for Board membership.
The following information is furnished with respect to each nominee for election as a director. All of the nominees are currently directors and were elected by the stockholders at last year's annual meeting. Each of the nominees has consented to being named in this proxy statement and to serve as a director if elected. If a nominee is unavailable to serve as a director, your proxies will have the authority and discretion to vote for another nominee proposed by the Board or the Board may reduce the number of directors to be elected at the 2017 annual meeting. The ages of the nominees are as of the date of the 2017 annual meeting, June 5, 2017.
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7 |
Todd F. Bourell
Independent Director since June 2015 Age: 47 Current Board Committees: Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee |
Donna R. Ecton
Independent Director since December 2013 Age: 70 Current Board Committees: Compensation Committee (Chair) and Audit Committee |
Career Highlights | ||
Managing Partner of WLJ Capital, LLC, a public equities investment firm he founded in January 2015. |
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Partner/Analyst at ValueAct Capital, LLC, a privately held hedge fund, from May 2001 to December 2014. |
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Global Industry Analyst at Wellington Management Company, a worldwide private investment management company, from September 2000 to May 2001. |
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Partner/Analyst at Peak Investment L.P., a private investment firm, from July 1994 to July 1998. |
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Served as ValueAct Capital, LLC's representative on the board of directors of several publicly-traded companies, including IAA from October 2003 to May 2005, now a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. |
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Graduate of Harvard College and the University of Pennsylvania (MBA). |
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Skills and Qualifications |
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✓ Extensive experience in finance, mergers and acquisitions and investment management, including experience in evaluating companies' strategies, operations and financial performance. |
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✓ Background provides perspective on institutional investors' approach to company performance, capital allocation and corporate governance. |
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✓ Extensive knowledge of IAA's business as a former owner (through ValueAct Capital, LLC) and board member on IAA's board of directors. |
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✓ Public company board experience. |
Career Highlights | ||
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of EEI Inc., a management consulting firm she founded in July 1998 to provide private equity firms with due diligence and market and operational assessments of companies being considered for acquisition, as well as turnaround management of troubled portfolio companies. |
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Director (1994 to 1998) and Chief Operating Officer (1996 to 1998) of PetsMart, Inc. |
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Chief Executive Officer of a number of companies, including Business Mail Express, Inc. (1995 to 1996) and Van Houten North America Inc./Andes Candies Inc. (1991 to 1994). |
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Held senior corporate management positions at Nutri/System, Inc., Campbell Soup Company and Nordemann Grimm, Inc. |
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Began career in banking at Chemical Bank and Citibank N.A. in New York City, running the Upper Manhattan middle market lending business and midtown Manhattan's retail banks. |
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Previous public company board of director positions have included Mellon Bank Corporation and Mellon Bank N.A., Mellon PSFS, H&R Block, Inc., Tandy Corporation, Barnes Group Inc. and Vencor, Inc. |
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Elected to and served on the Harvard University's Board of Overseers. |
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Member of the Council on Foreign Relations in New York City. |
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Serves on the NYSE Governance Services Advisory Council. |
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Graduate of Wellesley College (BA) and the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration (MBA). |
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Other Current Public Company Directorships: Director of CVR GP, LLC, the general partner of CVR Partners, LP, a nitrogen fertilizer business, since March 2008. | ||
Other Public Company Directorships in Last Five Years: Former Director and Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Body Central Corp. (2011 to 2014). | ||
Skills and Qualifications |
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✓ More than 40 years of operational and management experience, including as a CEO, with established companies allows Ms. Ecton to provide to our Board insight into operations, marketing, finance, human resources and strategic planning. |
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✓ Experience in running multiple location businesses not only in the U.S., but also in Canada, the U.K. and Australia. |
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✓ Significant strategy and risk assessment experience developed in her roles as a management consultant and as a senior executive of multiple companies. |
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✓ Substantial financial experience gained in her roles as CEO, COO and other senior executive positions. |
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✓ Current and prior service on the board of directors of public companies, including several committee chair roles, provides additional perspective to our Board. |
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8 |
James P. Hallett
Director since April 2007 Age: 64 Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer |
Mark E. Hill
Independent Director since June 2014 Age: 61 Current Board Committees: Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (Chair) and Risk Committee |
Career Highlights | ||
Chairman of the Company since December 2014 and Chief Executive Officer since September 2009. |
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Chief Executive Officer and President of ADESA from April 2007 to September 2009. |
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President of Columbus Fair Auto Auction, a large independent automobile auction located in Columbus, Ohio, from May 2005 to April 2007. |
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After selling his auctions to ADESA in 1996, Mr. Hallett held various senior executive leadership positions with ADESA between 1996 and 2005, including President and Chief Executive Officer of ADESA. |
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Founded and owned two automobile auctions in Canada from 1990 to 1996. |
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Graduate of Algonquin College. |
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Managed and then owned a number of new car franchise dealerships for 15 years. |
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Winner of multiple industry awards, including NAAA Pioneer of the Year in 2008. |
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Recognized as the EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2014 National Services Award Winner and one of Northwood University's 2015 Outstanding Business Leaders. |
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Skills and Qualifications |
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✓ Committed and deeply engaged leader with over 20 years of experience in key leadership roles throughout the Company and over 35 years of experience in the industry. |
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✓ As Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Hallett has a thorough and in-depth understanding of the Company's business and industry, including its employees, business units, customers and investors, which provides an additional perspective to our Board. |
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✓ Utilizes strong communication skills to guide Board discussions and keep our Board apprised of significant developments in our business and industry; including our risk management practices, strategic planning and development. |
Career Highlights | ||
Managing Partner of Collina Ventures, LLC, a private investment company that invests in software and technology companies, since 2006. |
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Co-founder and Chairman of Bluelock, LLC, a privately held infrastructure as a services company, since 2006. |
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Co-Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Baker Hill Corporation, a banking industry software and services business, from 1985 to 2006. Baker Hill Corporation was acquired by Experian PLC, a global information solutions company, in 2005. |
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Graduate of the University of Notre Dame and Indiana University (MBA). |
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Other Public Company Directorships in Last Five Years: Lead Independent Director of Interactive Intelligence Group, Inc., a global software business, from 2005 to 2016. |
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Skills and Qualifications |
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✓ Significant executive leadership and management experience leading and owning a software and technology-based business provides our Board with expertise in technology, innovation, and strategic investments. |
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✓ Extensive experience as an investor and mentor to numerous early stage software and technology companies provides entrepreneurial perspective to the Board. |
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✓ Key leadership experience in numerous central Indiana business and community service organizations, including TechPoint, the Central Indiana Community Foundation, the Orr Fellowship and the local Teach For America board. |
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✓ Public company board experience, including serving as a lead independent director. |
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9 |
J. Mark Howell
Independent Director since December 2014 Age: 52 Current Board Committees: Risk Committee (Chair) and Audit Committee |
Lynn Jolliffe
Independent Director since June 2014 Age: 65 Current Board Committees: Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee |
Career Highlights | ||
Chief Operating Officer of Angie's List, Inc., a publicly-traded, United States-based, leading consumer web services business connecting more than three million consumers to highly-rated local service providers via its online marketplace, since March 2013. |
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President, Ingram Micro North America Mobility of Ingram Micro Inc., a technology distribution company, from 2012 to 2013. |
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President, BrightPoint Americas of BrightPoint, Inc., a distributor of mobile devices for phone companies, including Chief Operating Officer, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, from 1994 to 2012. BrightPoint, Inc. was sold to Ingram Micro Inc. in 2012. |
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Vice President and Corporate Controller of ADESA from August 1992 to July 1994. |
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Audit Staff and Senior Staff at Ernst & Young LLP. |
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Graduate of the University of Notre Dame (BBA in Accounting). |
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Skills and Qualifications |
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✓ Extensive senior leadership experience at internet-based and technology-driven companies provides valuable insight as an increasing amount of the Company's consigned vehicles are sold online. |
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✓ Provides unique, in-depth knowledge of ADESA and its industry as a former employee of ADESA. |
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✓ Substantial financial experience. |
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✓ Certified Public Accountant with experience in public accounting and public companies. |
Career Highlights | ||
Chief Executive Officer of Jolliffe Solutions, Inc., providing consulting in human capital and talent management since June 2015. |
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Executive Vice President, Global Human Resources of Ingram Micro Inc., a technology distribution company, from June 2007 to June 2015. |
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Vice President, Human Resources for the North America region from October 2006 to May 2007. |
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Served as Regional Vice President, Human Resources and Services for Ingram Micro European Coordination Center from August 1999 to October 2006. |
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Served in various capacities, including Vice President and Chief Financial Officer with responsibility for human resources, at two Canadian retailers, including Holt Renfrew, from 1985 to 1999. |
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Began career at Bell Canada and then moved to Bank of Montreal. |
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Graduated from Queens University and University of Toronto (MBA). |
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Skills and Qualifications |
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✓ Extensive functional and leadership experience in finance, human resources and general management. |
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✓ Deep understanding of business drivers from the financial, operational and people perspective gained from experience in multiple industries across three continents. |
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✓ Diversity in viewpoint and international business experience as she has lived and worked in the U.S., Canada and abroad. |
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✓ Significant experience with executive compensation decisions, strategies and policies for the acquisition and development of employee talent. |
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10 |
Michael T. Kestner
Independent Director since December 2013 Age: 63 Current Board Committees: Audit Committee (Chair) and Risk Committee |
John P. Larson
Lead Independent Director since June 2014 Age: 54 Current Board Committees: Compensation Committee and Risk Committee |
Career Highlights | ||
Consultant in the building products and automotive industry since December 2015. |
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Chief Financial Officer of Building Materials Holding Corporation, a building products company, from August 2013 to December 2015. |
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Partner in FocusCFO, LLC, a consulting firm providing part-time CFO services, from April 2012 to August 2013. |
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Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and a director of Hilite International, Inc., an automotive supplier of powertrain parts, from October 1998 to July 2011. |
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Chief Financial Officer of Sinter Metals, Inc., a supplier of metal power precision components, from 1995 to 1998. |
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Served in various capacities at Banc One Capital Partners, Wolfensohn Ventures LP and as a senior audit manager at KPMG LLP. |
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Graduated from Southeast Missouri State University. |
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Skills and Qualifications |
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✓ Over 20 years as a CFO provides valuable experience and perspective as Chair of the Audit Committee. |
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✓ Brings experience as the former CFO of a large, United States-based company which includes experience with complex capital structures and mergers and acquisitions. |
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✓ Extensive experience in financial analysis and financial statement preparation. |
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✓ Management experience in the automotive industry both domestically and internationally provides him with additional insight into financial and business matters that are important to the Company. |
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✓ Certified Public Accountant with experience in public accounting and public companies. |
Career Highlights | ||
Chief Executive Officer of Bestop, Inc., a leading manufacturer of soft tops and accessories for Jeep vehicles, since August 2015. |
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Chief Executive Officer of Escort Inc., an automotive electronics manufacturer, from January 2008 to January 2014 and prior to that as President and Chief Operating Officer from June 2007 to January 2008. |
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Served in a number of capacities at General Motors Company from 1986 to 2007, most recently serving as General Manager overseeing operations for the Buick, Pontiac and GMC Divisions from January 2005 to May 2007 and as General Director of Finance (CFO) for U.S. Sales, Service and Marketing Operations from 2001 to 2004. |
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Led General Motors Company's used car remarketing activity from 1999 to 2000. |
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Graduated from Northern Illinois University and Purdue University (M.S., Management). |
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Skills and Qualifications |
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✓ Extensive business, management and operational experience as CEO in the automotive aftermarket and as a senior executive at one of the world's largest automakers, General Motors Company, provides him with perspective into the Company's challenges, operations, and strategic opportunities. |
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✓ Extensive experience in automotive remarketing, captive finance (GMAC), rental car program design and automotive dealer activities, as well as an in-depth understanding of the overall automotive business provide him a broad perspective on our industry and key customers. |
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✓ Extensive experience as a senior leader in corporate finance has provided him with key skills, including financial reporting, accounting and control, business planning and analysis and risk management, that are valuable to the oversight of our business. |
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11 |
Stephen E. Smith
Independent Director since December 2013 Age: 68 Current Board Committees: Audit Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee |
Career Highlights | ||
Consultant in the automotive industry since October 2012. |
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Senior Vice President, Financial Services of American Honda Finance Corporation (AHFC), a provider of financial services to automobile, motorcycle, marine and power equipment product dealers and their customers, from 1985 to October 2012 (including various other positions). Financial services included commercial lending, consumer lending and financing and vehicle service contracts. Started the consumer finance organization at AHFC. |
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Served two terms as Chair of the Vehicle Finance Division for the American Financial Services Association. Member of the Financial Services Roundtable. |
||
Began career at Bullock's Dept. Stores, a division of Federated Department Stores. Held senior level positions in the credit card division and in store management. |
||
Member of the board of the directors of Carecredit Corporation, a privately-held consumer credit healthcare company, from 1996 to 2002. |
||
Interim President of the California Council on Economic Education, a not-for-profit organization that provides training and educational materials to California teachers relating to economics and personal finance, from July 2013 to February 2014. |
||
Graduated from California State University, Northridge (BA, MBA). |
Skills and Qualifications | ||
✓ Over 25 years of extensive operational and management experience in the automotive industry with particular insight into the financing and leasing of vehicles. |
||
✓ Significant expertise in creating, building and developing consumer and commercial finance business. Expertise in strategy development, sales and marketing, operating efficiency and performance improvement, customer satisfaction and loyalty, and talent management. |
||
✓ Extensive experience in managing lease residual setting, vehicle remarketing, dealer inventory financing and vehicle service contracts. |
||
✓ Considerable financial skill and expertise. |
| | |
12 |
The Board oversees the Company's CEO and other senior management in the competent and ethical operation of the Company and assures that the long-term interests of the stockholders are being served. The Company's Corporate Governance Guidelines are available on our website at www.karauctionservices.com on the "Investor Relations" page under the link "Corporate Governance." The information on our website is not part of this proxy statement and is not deemed incorporated by reference into this proxy statement or any other public filing made with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").
Neither the Company's Second Amended and Restated By-Laws nor the Company's Corporate Governance Guidelines require that the Company separate the roles of Chairman of the Board and CEO, and the Board does not have a policy on whether the same person should serve as both the CEO and Chairman of the Board, or if the roles must remain separate. The Board believes that it should have the flexibility to make these determinations from time to time in the way that it believes best to provide appropriate leadership for the Company under then-existing circumstances.
At present, the Board has chosen to combine the positions of CEO and Chairman of the Board and to appoint a Lead Independent Director. Our Board believes that having the same person serve in the roles of Chairman of the Board and CEO is appropriate for the Company at this time, as it fosters clear accountability, effective decision making and alignment on corporate strategy. Given Mr. Hallett's unparalleled knowledge of the industry and the Company, the Board believes Mr. Hallett is in the best position to focus the independent directors' attention on critical business matters and to speak for and lead both the Company and the Board. In addition, the Board believes that the appointment of a Lead Independent Director helps ensure that the Company benefits from effective oversight by its independent directors. Our Lead Independent Director presides over the executive sessions of the independent directors and serves as the principal liaison between the independent directors and the Company's CEO and Chairman of the Board. Our Lead Independent Director, Mr. Larson, has served on the Board since 2014 and has strong communication and leadership skills, as well as extensive knowledge about the Company's strategic objectives, the industry in which we operate, and the areas of strategic importance to the Company.
In connection with the appointment of a Lead Independent Director, the Board adopted a Lead Independent Director Charter, which sets forth a clear mandate with significant authority and responsibilities, including:
Board Meetings and Executive Sessions | Has the authority to call meetings of the independent members of the Board. Presides at all meetings of the Board at which the Chairman of the Board is not present, including executive sessions of the independent members of the Board. |
|
| | |
Communications | Serves as principal liaison on Board-wide issues between the independent directors and the Chairman and CEO and facilitates communication generally between and among directors. |
|
| | |
Agendas | Reviews, in consultation with the Chairman and CEO, the agenda for Board meetings. |
|
| | |
Meeting Schedules | Reviews, in consultation with the Chairman and CEO, the meeting schedules to assure there is sufficient time for discussion of all agenda items. |
|
Reviews, in consultation with the Chairman and CEO, information sent to the Board, including the quality, quantity, appropriateness and timeliness of such information. |
||
| | |
Communicating with Stockholders | If requested by stockholders, ensures that he or she is available, when appropriate, for consultation and direct communication. |
|
| | |
Chairman and CEO Performance Evaluation and Board Governance | Together with the Compensation Committee, conducts an annual evaluation of the Chairman and CEO, including an annual evaluation of his or her interactions with the independent directors. |
|
Guides the Board's governance process, including self-evaluations. |
||
| | |
| | |
13 |
The Board held 13 meetings during 2016. All of the incumbent directors attended at least 75% of the meetings of the Board and Board committees on which they served during 2016. As stated in our Corporate Governance Guidelines, each director is expected to attend all annual meetings of stockholders. All of our directors attended last year's annual meeting of stockholders in person.
In 2016, the Board maintained four standing committees: the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Risk Committee. Each of our committees operates pursuant to a written charter. Copies of the committee charters are available on our website at www.karauctionservices.com on the "Investor Relations" page under the link "Corporate Governance." The information on our website is not part of this proxy statement and is not deemed incorporated by reference into this proxy statement or any other public filing made with the SEC. The following table sets forth the current membership of each committee:
Name |
Audit Committee |
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee |
Compensation Committee |
Risk Committee | ||||
Todd F. Bourell | ||||||||
Donna R. Ecton | | Chair | | |||||
James P. Hallett* | ||||||||
Mark E. Hill | | Chair | | |||||
J. Mark Howell | Chair | |||||||
Lynn Jolliffe | | | ||||||
Michael T. Kestner | Chair | |||||||
John P. Larson** | | | ||||||
Stephen E. Smith |
* Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
** Lead Independent Director
A description of each Board committee is set forth below.
Audit Committee
Meetings Held in 2016: Six
Primary Responsibilities: Our Audit Committee assists the Board in its oversight of the integrity of our financial statements, our independent registered public accounting firm's qualifications and independence and the performance of our independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee reviews the audit plans and findings of our independent registered public accounting firm and our internal audit team and tracks management's corrective action plans where necessary; reviews our financial statements, including any significant financial items and changes in accounting policies or practices, with our senior management and independent registered public accounting firm; reviews our financial risk and control procedures, compliance programs and significant tax, legal and regulatory matters; and has the sole discretion to appoint annually our independent registered public accounting firm, evaluate its independence and performance and set clear hiring policies for employees or former employees of the independent registered public accounting firm.
Independence: Each member of the Audit Committee is "financially literate" under the rules of the NYSE, and each of Messrs. Howell and Kestner and Ms. Ecton has been designated as an "audit committee financial expert" as that term is defined by the SEC. In addition, the Board has determined that each member of the Audit Committee meets the standards of "independence" established by the NYSE and is "independent" under the independence standards for audit committee members adopted by the SEC.
| | |
14 |
Compensation Committee
Meetings Held in 2016: Seven
Primary Responsibilities: The Compensation Committee reviews and recommends policies relating to compensation and benefits of our officers and employees. The Compensation Committee reviews and approves corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of our CEO and other executive officers, evaluates the performance of these officers in light of those goals and objectives, and approves the compensation of these officers based on such evaluations. The Compensation Committee also administers the issuance of equity and other awards under our equity plans.
Independence: All of the members of the Compensation Committee are independent under the NYSE rules (including the enhanced independence requirements for compensation committee members).
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
Meetings Held in 2016: Four
Primary Responsibilities: The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for making recommendations to the Board regarding candidates for directorships and the size and composition of the Board. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee also reviews non-employee director compensation on an annual basis and makes recommendations to the Board. In addition, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for overseeing our Corporate Governance Guidelines and reporting and making recommendations to the Board concerning governance matters.
Independence: All of the members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are independent under the NYSE rules.
Risk Committee
Meetings Held in 2016: Four
Primary Responsibilities: The Risk Committee assists the Board in its oversight of (i) the principal business, financial, technology and operational risks, and other material risks and exposures of the Company and (ii) the actions, activities and initiatives of the Company to mitigate such risks and exposures. The Risk Committee also provides oversight for matters specifically relating to cyber security and other risks related to information technology systems and procedures. The Risk Committee also oversees the Company's enterprise risk management ("ERM") program and has direct oversight over certain risks within the ERM framework.
Independence: All of the members of the Risk Committee are independent under the NYSE rules.
| | |
15 |
Our management is responsible for the management and assessment of risk at the Company, including communication of the most material risks to the Board and its committees. Oversight of the Company's risks is carried out by the Board as a whole and by each of its various committees. The Risk Committee provides oversight with respect to risk practices implemented by management, except for the oversight of risks that have been specifically delegated to another committee of the Board. Even when the oversight of a specific area of risk has been delegated to another committee, the Risk Committee may maintain oversight over such risks through the receipt of reports from the committee chairpersons to the Risk Committee. The Board maintains oversight over such risks through the receipt of reports from the chairperson of the Risk Committee and from the other committees at each regularly scheduled Board meeting. The Risk Committee and other committee reviews occur principally through the receipt of reports from management and third parties on these areas of risk, and discussions with management and third parties regarding risk assessment and risk management.
At its regularly scheduled meetings, the Board generally receives a number of reports which include information relating to risks faced by the Company. The Company's Chief Financial Officer provides a report on the Company's results of operations, its liquidity position, including an analysis of prospective sources and uses of funds, and the implications to the Company's debt covenants and credit rating, if any. The Chief Executive Officer of each primary business unit provides an operational report, which includes information relating to strategic, operational and competitive risks. Finally, the Company's General Counsel provides a privileged report which provides information regarding the status of the Company's material litigation and related matters, if any, including environmental updates and the Company's continuing compliance with applicable laws and regulations. At each regularly scheduled Board meeting, the Board also receives reports from the Risk Committee chairperson as well as other committee chairpersons, which may include a discussion of risks initially overseen by the committees for discussion and input from the Board. As noted above, in addition to these regular reports, the Risk Committee receives reports on specific areas of risk such as regulatory, cyclical or other risks and reports to the Board on these matters.
The Board's leadership structure, through its committees, also supports its role in risk oversight. In general, the committees oversee the following risks:
| | |
16 |
The Board has adopted the following corporate governance documents:
Document | Purpose/Application | |
---|---|---|
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics | Applies to all of the Company's employees, officers and directors, including those officers responsible for financial reporting. | |
Code of Ethics for Principal Executive and Senior Financial Officers | Applies to the Company's principal executive officer, principal financial and accounting officer and such other persons who are designated by the Board. | |
Corporate Governance Guidelines | Contains general principles regarding the functions of the Board and its committees. | |
Committee Charters | Applies to the following Board committees, as applicable: Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and Risk Committee. | |
Lead Independent Director Charter | Sets forth a clear mandate and significant authority and responsibilities for the Lead Independent Director. |
We expect that any amendment to or waiver of the codes of ethics that apply to executive officers or directors will be disclosed on the Company's website. The foregoing documents are available at www.karauctionservices.com on the "Investor Relations" page under the "Corporate Governance" link and in print to any stockholder who requests them. Requests should be made to KAR Auction Services, Inc., Investor Relations, 13085 Hamilton Crossing Boulevard, Carmel, Indiana 46032. The information on our website is not part of this proxy statement and is not deemed incorporated by reference into this proxy statement or any other public filing made with the SEC.
During fiscal year 2016, Messrs. Bourell, Howell and Larson and Mmes. Ecton and Jolliffe served as members of the Compensation Committee. None of our executive officers serve, or in fiscal year 2016 has served, as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving on our Board or our Compensation Committee. None of the individuals serving as members of the Compensation Committee during fiscal year 2016 are now or were previously an officer or employee of the Company or its subsidiaries, other than Mr. Howell who served as the Vice President and Corporate Controller of ADESA from August 1992 to July 1994. Our Board has affirmatively determined that Mr. Howell meets the standards of "independence" established by the NYSE. Mr. Howell transitioned from the Compensation Committee to the Audit Committee on June 8, 2016.
Any stockholder or other interested parties desiring to communicate with the Board, the Chairman of the Board, a committee of the Board or any of the independent directors individually or as a group regarding the Company may directly contact such directors by delivering such correspondence to the Company's General Counsel at KAR Auction Services, Inc., 13085 Hamilton Crossing Boulevard, Carmel, Indiana 46032. Our General Counsel reviews all such correspondence and forwards to the applicable director(s) copies of all such applicable correspondence.
The Audit Committee has established procedures for employees, stockholders and others to submit confidential and anonymous reports regarding accounting, internal accounting controls, auditing or any other relevant matters.
| | |
17 |
The independent directors of the Company meet in executive session at every regularly scheduled Board meeting. The Company's Corporate Governance Guidelines state that the Chairman of the Board (if an independent director) or the Lead Independent Director (if the Chairman of the Board is not an independent director) shall preside at such executive sessions, or in such director's absence, another independent director designated by the Chairman of the Board or the Lead Independent Director, as applicable. Currently, Mr. Larson, our Lead Independent Director, presides at the executive sessions of our independent directors.
| | |
18 |
We use a combination of cash and stock-based incentive compensation to attract and retain independent, qualified candidates to serve on the Board. The Board makes all director compensation determinations after considering the recommendations of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. In connection with the Board's 2016 director compensation decisions, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee retained Semler Brossy Consulting Group LLC ("Semler Brossy") as its independent consultant. In setting director compensation, we considered market comparison studies and other data obtained from Semler Brossy, the responsibilities of directors generally, including committee chairs, and the significant amount of time that directors expend in fulfilling their duties. In establishing the non-employee director compensation recommendations, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee utilized a balance of cash and equity, with the majority of the compensation delivered through equity grants. Directors who also serve as employees of the Company do not receive payment for service as directors.
In making non-employee director compensation recommendations, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers various factors, including the form and amount of compensation paid to directors by comparable companies, the responsibilities of directors generally, as well as committee chairs, and the time commitments and required skill level of Board members.
Non-employee directors who served for the entirety of 2016 received:
Components of Director Compensation Program For 2016 Service |
Value of Cash Payment/Award |
Form of Payment(1) |
||
---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | |
Annual Cash Retainer(2) | $85,000 | Cash | ||
Annual Stock Retainer(3) |
$115,000 |
Restricted Stock |
||
Lead Independent Director Fee |
$30,000 |
Cash |
||
Audit and Compensation Committee Chair Fee |
$20,000 |
Cash |
||
Nominating and Corporate Governance and Risk Committee Chair Fee |
$10,000 |
Cash |
All of our directors are reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with attending Board meetings, committee meetings and Board education events.
For any director who started after the beginning of the year, became a committee chair after the beginning of the year or retired during the fiscal year, relevant compensation was prorated according to the number of months during which he or she served as a director or in a committee chair position, as applicable, during that year.
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19 |
Our Board adopted the KAR Auction Services, Inc. Directors Deferred Compensation Plan (the "Director Deferred Compensation Plan") in December 2009. Pursuant to the terms of the Director Deferred Compensation Plan, each non-employee director may elect to defer the receipt of his or her cash director fees into a pre-tax interest-bearing deferred compensation account, which account accrues interest as described in the Director Deferred Compensation Plan. Amounts under the Director Deferred Compensation Plan may also be invested in the same investment choices as are available under our 401(k) plan. Non-employee directors also may choose to receive all or a portion of their annual stock retainer in the form of a deferred share account. The Director Deferred Compensation Plan provides that the amount of cash in a director's deferred cash account, plus the number of shares of our common stock equal to the number of shares in the director's deferred share account, will be delivered to a director in installments over a specified period or within 60 days following the date of the director's departure from the Board, with cash being paid in lieu of any fractional shares.
The Company's non-employee directors are subject to the Company's director stock ownership and holding guidelines. The stock holding guideline requires each non-employee director to hold any shares of the Company's common stock granted by the Company for at least four years and all shares must be held for six months after service as a director has ended with the Company, subject to certain exceptions approved by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
The Company's stock ownership guidelines require each non-employee director to own a minimum of three times his or her annual cash retainer amount in shares of Company stock.
The following table provides information regarding the compensation paid to our non-employee directors.
Name
|
Fees Earned or Paid in Cash(1) |
Stock Awards(2) |
Total |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Todd F. Bourell | $85,000 | $121,297 | $206,297 | |||
Donna R. Ecton | $105,000 | $121,297 | $226,297 | |||
Peter R. Formanek(3) | $37,185 | $6,276 | $43,461 | |||
Mark E. Hill | $95,000 | $121,297 | $216,297 | |||
J. Mark Howell | $95,000 | $121,297 | $216,297 | |||
Lynn Jolliffe | $85,000 | $121,297 | $206,297 | |||
Michael T. Kestner | $105,000 | $121,297 | $226,297 | |||
John P. Larson | $115,000 | $121,297 | $236,297 | |||
Stephen E. Smith | $85,000 | $121,297 | $206,297 |
Mr. Hallett was not entitled to receive any fees or other compensation for serving as a member of our Board in 2016 because he was employed by the Company.
| | |
20 |
The following table sets forth information regarding the number of unvested or deferred shares of our common stock held by each non-employee director as of December 31, 2016:
Name
|
Unvested Shares and Dividend Equivalents(1) |
Deferred Phantom Shares and Dividend Equivalents(2) |
||
---|---|---|---|---|
Todd F. Bourell | 1,415 | 4,319 | ||
Donna R. Ecton | 1,415 | 9,557 | ||
Mark E. Hill | 1,415 | 7,737 | ||
J. Mark Howell | 1,415 | 5,656 | ||
Lynn Jolliffe | 1,393 | 6,155 | ||
Michael T. Kestner | 1,415 | 6,938 | ||
John P. Larson | 1,415 | 7,737 | ||
Stephen E. Smith | 1,393 | 7,976 |
| | |
21 |
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of April 13, 2017 of: (1) each person or entity who owns of record or beneficially 5% or more of any class of the Company's voting securities of which 137,146,721 shares of common stock were outstanding as of April 13, 2017; (2) each of our directors, director nominees and named executive officers; and (3) all of our directors, director nominees and executive officers as a group. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC. To our knowledge, each stockholder will have sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares indicated as beneficially owned, unless otherwise indicated in a footnote to the following table. The percentage calculations below are based on shares of our common stock outstanding as of April 13, 2017 rather than the percentages set forth in any stockholder's Schedule 13D or Schedule 13G filing. Unless otherwise indicated in a footnote, the business address of each person is our corporate address, c/o KAR Auction Services, Inc., 13085 Hamilton Crossing Boulevard, Carmel, Indiana 46032.
|
Shares Beneficially Owned | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Name of Beneficial Owner
|
Number of Shares(1) |
Percent of Class(2) |
||
5% BENEFICIAL OWNERS |
||||
FMR LLC(3) |
14,655,022 | 10.69% | ||
The Vanguard Group(4) |
10,765,216 | 7.85% | ||
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.(5) |
7,716,978 | 5.63% | ||
NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND DIRECTOR NOMINEES |
||||
Todd F. Bourell |
5,818 | * | ||
Donna R. Ecton |
11,135 | * | ||
Donald S. Gottwald(6) |
102,623 | * | ||
James P. Hallett(6) |
498,444 | * | ||
Mark E. Hill |
39,787 | * | ||
J. Mark Howell |
7,175 | * | ||
Lynn Jolliffe |
9,201 | * | ||
Peter Kelly(6) |
172,414 | * | ||
Michael T. Kestner |
14,399 | * | ||
John P. Larson |
9,287 | * | ||
Eric M. Loughmiller(6) |
195,349 | * | ||
Stephen E. Smith |
11,048 | * | ||
Stéphane St-Hilaire(6) |
116,428 | * | ||
Executive officers, directors and director nominees as a group 22 persons(7) |
1,826,283 | 1.3% |
* Less than one percent
| | |
22 |
dispositive power with respect to 10,676,693 shares, shared voting power with respect to 15,181 shares and shared dispositive power with respect to 88,523 shares. The address of The Vanguard Group is 100 Vanguard Blvd., Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355.
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("Exchange Act"), requires KAR Auction Services' directors and executive officers and persons who own more than 10% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company's common stock to file reports of initial ownership of common stock and other equity securities and subsequent changes in that ownership with the SEC and the NYSE. Based solely on a review of such reports and written representations from the directors and executive officers, the Company believes that all such filing requirements were met during 2016, except that Mark Hill filed one Form 4 late to report two transactions that occurred on May 21, 2015 whereby Mr. Hill indirectly acquired ownership of shares as the trustee of a family member's trust.
| | |
23 |
In accordance with Section 14A of the Exchange Act and related SEC rules, the Company seeks a non-binding advisory vote from its stockholders to approve the compensation of its named executive officers as described in the "Compensation Discussion and Analysis" section beginning on page 26 and the compensation tables that follow such section.
Our executive compensation program includes certain "best practices" in governance and executive compensation, including the following:
In deciding how to vote on this proposal, the Board encourages you to read the "Compensation Discussion and Analysis" section and the compensation tables that follow. Because this vote is advisory, it will not be binding upon the Board; however, the Board and the Compensation Committee value our stockholders' opinions, and the Compensation Committee will take into account the outcome of the advisory vote when considering future executive compensation decisions.
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24 |
Section 14A of the Exchange Act and related SEC rules require that we provide stockholders the opportunity to vote, on a non-binding, advisory basis, as to how frequently we should hold future non-binding, advisory votes on the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in our proxy statement in accordance with SEC rules. SEC rules provide that stockholders must have an opportunity to indicate whether they would prefer that we hold future advisory votes on executive compensation every year, once every two years, or once every three years.
The Board has determined that holding an advisory vote on executive compensation every year is most appropriate for the Company and recommends that you vote in favor of holding an advisory vote to approve named executive officer compensation every year. The Board believes that an annual "say-on-pay" vote enables stockholders to provide frequent, direct input to the Company regarding its executive compensation philosophy, policies and practices.
The proxy card (or voting instruction card, if you hold your shares through a bank, broker or other nominee) provides stockholders with the opportunity to vote as to the frequency of advisory votes on named executive officer compensation. Accordingly, in voting on this proposal, you should mark your proxy card (or voting instruction card) for every year, every two years, or every three years, based on your preference as to the frequency with which an advisory vote on named executive officer compensation should be held. You may also choose to abstain from voting on this proposal.
This vote is advisory and will not be binding on the Company or the Board. The Board will take the outcome of the vote into consideration when determining the frequency of future advisory votes on named executive officer compensation.
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25 |
The following discussion and analysis of our compensation program for named executive officers should be read in conjunction with the tables and text elsewhere in this proxy statement that describe the compensation awarded and paid to the named executive officers.
Named Executive Officers
Our named executive officers for the last completed fiscal year were (i) our chief executive officer; (ii) our chief financial officer; and (iii) each of the three other most highly compensated executive officers who were serving as executive officers at the end of the last completed fiscal year. Our named executive officers are:
|
Name |
Title |
||
---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | |
Jim Hallett | Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board | |||
Eric Loughmiller | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||
| Don Gottwald | Chief Operating Officer | ||
Stéphane St-Hilaire | Chief Executive Officer and President of ADESA | |||
| Peter Kelly | Chief Technology Officer and President of Digital Services |
This Compensation Discussion and Analysis is organized into six sections:
Executive Summary (pages 2728) | ||
Compensation Philosophy and Objectives (page 29) |
||
The Role of the Compensation Committee and the Executive Officers in Determining Executive Compensation (page 29) |
||
Elements Used to Achieve Compensation Philosophy and Objectives (pages 3240) |
||
Compensation Policies and Other Information (pages 4042) |
||
Results of Say on Pay Votes at 2014 Annual Meeting (page 42) |
2016 Executive Compensation Highlights
These compensation highlights are discussed in more detail below.
| | |
26 |
For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company again delivered solid growth in volume of total vehicles sold, revenues, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income. Specific highlights for fiscal 2016 included:
2016 Business Highlights
The closing stock price of KAR's common stock rose approximately 15% from $37.03 at December 31, 2015 to $42.62 at December 30, 2016. The closing price shown below for each year is the closing price of a share of the Company's common stock on the last trading day of each year.
Net revenue was up 17% to over $3.1 billion. |
Total vehicles sold by ADESA and IAA rose approximately 14% to 5.1 million units. |
Net income increased 3.6% from $214.6 million ($1.51 per diluted share) to $222.4 million ($1.60 per diluted share).
Through share buybacks and dividends, in 2016 we returned approximately $237 million to stockholders and invested approximately $587 million in our business through capital expenditures and strategic acquisitions. |
Adjusted EBITDA* rose 15% to approximately $748 million. |
* Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure and is defined and reconciled to the most comparable GAAP measure, net income, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 in Item 7, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of OperationsEBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA."
| | |
27 |
Our Executive Compensation Practices are Aligned with Stockholders' Interests
We maintain a compensation program structured to achieve a close connection between executive pay and Company performance. We believe that this strong pay for performance orientation has served us well in recent years.
WHAT WE DO
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fiscal Year | 2011 YE | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| CEO Pay ($000) | | | | $1,414 | | $5,994 | | $4,808 | | $4,824 | | $4,938 | | ||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Indexed TSR | 100 | 151.44 | 228.63 | 276.88 | 304.58 | 361.01 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
WHAT WE DON'T DO
| | |
28 |
We design and administer our executive pay programs to help ensure the compensation of our named executive officers is (i) closely aligned with our performance on both a short-term and long-term basis; (ii) linked to specific, measurable results intended to create value for stockholders; and (iii) competitive in attracting and retaining key executive talent into the vehicle remarketing and auto finance industry. Each of the compensation programs that we have developed and implemented is intended to satisfy one or more of the following specific objectives:
While the Company does not target any specific percentile positioning versus the market, the market median is used as a reference point but is not the sole determinant when making compensation decisions. Compensation decisions are made considering a number of factors including experience, tenure, specific requirements of roles relative to the market and individual and Company performance.
Composition of the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee of our Board is comprised of Mmes. Ecton (Chairman) and Jolliffe and Messrs. Bourell and Larson.
Role of the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee has primary responsibility for all compensation decisions relating to our named executive officers. The Compensation Committee reviews the aggregate level of our executive compensation, as well as the mix of elements used to compensate our named executive officers on an annual basis.
Compensation Committee's Use of Market and Survey Data. In light of the unique mix of businesses that comprise KAR Auction Services and the lack of directly comparable public companies, the Compensation Committee had traditionally not adopted a specific peer group of companies for the purpose of formally benchmarking compensation; however, the Compensation Committee understands that most companies consider pay levels at comparably-sized, peer companies when setting named executive officer compensation levels. With assistance from its independent compensation consultant, the Compensation Committee has developed a meaningful comparator group for the Company. The Compensation Committee has refined its comparator group selection process from 2016 to 2017, as described below.
In order to confirm competitiveness of compensation, the Compensation Committee reviews survey data and proxy compensation data of other comparably-sized companies. Prior to 2015, the Compensation Committee had not set compensation levels by reference to competitive market data using any specific target percentiles within such data. Beginning in late 2015, the Compensation Committee began using a combination of (i) survey data (cuts from the 2015 Aon Hewitt and Mercer general industry and service industry surveys); and (ii) proxy
| | |
29 |
compensation data of a "proxy comparator group" more formally in setting and adjusting base salary levels for 2016. In light of the lack of directly comparable companies for KAR Auction Services' business, as noted above, companies in the proxy comparator group were selected based on (i) a focus on service-oriented industries; (ii) similarly-sized revenue and market capitalization levels; (iii) comparable growth, profitability and/or market valuation profiles; and (iv) the avoidance of over-representing any one industry. Where possible, the Compensation Committee included companies that are in related or similar industries to the Company. The proxy comparator group used in late 2015 until July 2016 consisted of the following 30 companies:
2016 Proxy Comparator Group | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc. |
Kansas City Southern | Steelcase, Inc. | ||
AOL, Inc. |
Kirby Corp. | Stericycle, Inc. | ||
Cintas Corporation |
Landstar System, Inc. | Teradata Corp. | ||
Comerica, Inc. |
LKQ Corp. | Tetra Tech, Inc. | ||
Copart, Inc. |
MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. | Total System Services, Inc. | ||
Equifax, Inc. |
Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. | Trimble Navigation Ltd. | ||
GATX Corp. |
Plexus Corp. | Vantiv, Inc. | ||
Heartland Payment Systems, Inc. |
Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, Inc. | Waste Connections, Inc. | ||
HNI Corp. |
Solera Holdings, Inc. | Werner Enterprises, Inc. | ||
Itron, Inc. |
Springleaf Holdings, Inc. | Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation |
The Compensation Committee viewed the proxy comparator group and market data as an important guide, but not as the sole determinant in making its decisions regarding 2016 base salary levels. The Compensation Committee also considered experience and tenure, sustained performance and specific requirements of roles relative to market and individual and Company performance.
In July 2016, based on the recommendation of ClearBridge Compensation Group LLC ("ClearBridge"), the Compensation Committee continued to refine the comparator group and approved a revised proxy comparator group consisting of the following 17 companies (13 of which were part of the proxy comparator group for 2016) to be used in making 2017 compensation decisions:
Revised 2017 Proxy Comparator Group | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc. |
GATX Corp. | Stericycle, Inc. | ||
Cintas Corporation |
LKQ Corp. | Total System Services, Inc. | ||
Copart, Inc. |
MSC Industrial Direct Co. Inc. | Vantiv, Inc. | ||
CDK Global, Inc. |
Old Dominion Freight Line Inc. | Werner Enterprises, Inc. | ||
ebay Inc. |
Pitney Bowes Inc. | Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation | ||
Equifax Inc. |
Sotheby's |
Companies in the revised 2017 proxy comparator group were selected based on (i) a focus on companies in service-oriented industries; (ii) similarly-sized revenue and market capitalization levels; (iii) comparable growth, profitability and/or market valuation profiles; and (iv) companies with which KAR Auction Services competes for executive talent. Where possible, the Compensation Committee included companies that are in related or similar industries to the Company. The revised 2017 proxy comparator group does not include AOL, Inc., Heartland Payment Systems, Inc. and Solera Holdings, Inc. because these companies were recently acquired and thus are no longer viable comparator companies.
Role of the Independent Compensation Consultant. The Compensation Committee used Semler Brossy as its independent compensation consultant in 2015 and for the first half of 2016. In June 2016, the Compensation Committee retained ClearBridge as its independent compensation consultant following the conclusion of its engagement with Semler Brossy. Semler Brossy and ClearBridge each provided (i) advice to the Compensation Committee with respect to the assessment of the Company's executive compensation practices; (ii) advice regarding the evaluation of long-term incentive compensation practices; (iii) advice and guidance regarding the design of new long-term equity awards; (iv) advice regarding related compensation matters; (v) advice to the Compensation Committee with respect to annual and long-term incentive plan design; and (vi) guidance on the competitiveness of the executive officers' elements of compensation.
The Compensation Committee has reviewed the independence of Semler Brossy and ClearBridge in light of SEC rules and NYSE listing standards regarding compensation consultants and has concluded that (i) the work
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of Semler Brossy for the Compensation Committee did not raise any conflict of interest; and (ii) the work of ClearBridge for the Compensation Committee does not raise any conflict of interest. All work performed by each of Semler Brossy and ClearBridge is and was subject to review and approval of the Compensation Committee.
Role of the Executive Officers. Mr. Hallett regularly participates in meetings of the Compensation Committee at which compensation actions involving our named executive officers are discussed. Mr. Hallett assists the Compensation Committee by making recommendations regarding compensation actions for the executive officers other than himself. Mr. Hallett recuses himself and does not participate in any portion of any meeting of the Compensation Committee at which his compensation is discussed.
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Elements of 2016 Executive Compensation Program Design
The following table lists the elements of compensation for our 2016 executive compensation program. The program uses a mix of fixed and variable compensation elements and provides alignment with both short- and long-term business goals through annual and long-term incentives. Our incentives are designed to drive overall corporate performance and business unit strategies that correlate to stockholder value and align with our strategic vision. In order to confirm competitiveness of compensation, the Compensation Committee reviews survey data and proxy compensation data of other companies.
|
Element |
Key Characteristics |
Why We Pay This Element |
How We Determine Amount |
2016 Decisions |
|||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fixed | Base salary |
Fixed compensation component payable in cash. Reviewed annually and adjusted when appropriate. |
Reward the NEOs for their past performance and facilitate the attraction and retention of a skilled and experienced executive management team. | Company performance, individual performance, experience, job scope, tenure, review of competitive pay practices and base salary as a percentage of total compensation. | Three named executive officers received a salary increase in 2016. See page 3334. | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Annual cash incentive awards | Variable compensation component payable in cash based on performance against annually established targets. | Motivate and reward the successful achievement of pre-determined financial objectives at the Company. |
Award opportunities are based on individual performance, experience, job scope and review of competitive pay practices. Actual award payouts are based on achievement of 2016 Adjusted EBITDA. |
Strong performance resulted in 122% of target for the CEO and an average of 129% of target for the other named executive officers. See page 36. | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Variable |
| Performance restricted stock units (PRSUs) |
PRSUs vest at the end of a three-year performance period. See page 37 for the retention requirements for PRSUs. |
Motivate and reward executives for performance on key long-term measures. Align the interests of executives with long-term stockholder value and serve to retain executive talent. |
Award opportunities are based on individual's ability to impact future results, job scope, individual performance and review of competitive pay practices. Awards earned based on 3-year Cumulative Operating Adjusted Net Income Per Share performance through December 31, 2018. |
The Compensation Committee granted PRSUs to all of the named executive officers in 2016. See page 37. | ||||||
|
|
|
|
PRSU awards made up 75% of the value of the aggregate long-term incentives granted to the named executive officers in 2016. |
||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Restricted stock units (RSUs) | RSUs vest ratably on each of the first three anniversaries of the grant date subject to the named executive officer's continued employment with the Company, provided that the Company achieves $100 million in adjusted net income in its 2016 fiscal year, as reported by the Company (which condition was satisfied). | Align the interests of executives with long-term stockholder value and serve to retain executive talent. |
Awards based on individual's ability to impact future results, job scope, individual performance and review of competitive pay practices. RSU awards made up 25% of the value of the aggregate long-term incentives granted to the named executive officers in 2016. |
The Compensation Committee granted RSUs to all of the named executive officers in 2016. See page 37. |
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Compensation Structure and Goal Setting
Our executive compensation program is designed to deliver compensation in accordance with corporate and business unit performance with a large percentage of compensation at risk through long-term equity awards and annual cash incentive awards. These awards are linked to actual performance, consistent with our belief that a significant amount of executive compensation should be in the form of equity and that a greater percentage of compensation should be tied to performance for executives who bear higher levels of responsibility for our performance. The mix of target direct compensation for 2016 for our CEO and the average of our other named executives is shown in the charts below. Approximately 80% of our CEO's total compensation, and approximately 70% of the average total compensation of our other named executive officers, is at-risk, consisting of PRSUs, restricted stock units ("RSUs") and other performance-based incentives.
CEO Compensation | Other Named Executive Officer Average Compensation |
|
Base Salary
General. Annual salary levels for our named executive officers are based upon various factors, including the amount and relative percentage of total compensation that is derived from base salary when setting the compensation of our executive officers, Company performance, individual performance, experience, job scope and tenure. In view of the wide variety of factors considered by the Compensation Committee in connection with determining the base salary of each of our named executive officers, the Compensation Committee has not attempted to rank or otherwise assign relative weights to the factors that it considers. A description of how these factors were applied in 2016 is described below.
Base Salaries for 2016. In late 2015 and the first quarter of 2016, the Compensation Committee reviewed the base salaries of each of our named executive officers for 2016. After considering multiple factors as noted above, the Compensation Committee approved a base salary adjustment for Messrs. Gottwald, St-Hilaire and Kelly. The Compensation Committee did not approve base salary adjustments for Messrs. Hallett and
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Loughmiller because the Compensation Committee determined that their base salaries were already set at competitive levels. The following base salaries were in effect for 2016:
Name
|
Base Salary |
Increase % |
Effective Date |
Why Was Increase Approved? |
||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jim Hallett |
$900,000 | 0% | January 1, 2014 | N/A | ||||
Eric Loughmiller |
$450,000 | 0% | January 1, 2015 | N/A | ||||
Don Gottwald |
$566,500 | 3% | January 1, 2016 | Merit increase. | ||||
Stéphane St-Hilaire |
$459,000 | 2% | January 1, 2016 | Merit increase. | ||||
Peter Kelly |
$440,000 | 10% | January 1, 2016 | Merit and market adjustment. |
Base Salaries for 2017. In late 2016, the Compensation Committee reviewed the base salaries of each of our named executive officers for 2017. After considering multiple factors as noted above, the Compensation Committee approved the following base salaries, effective January 1, 2017:
Name
|
Base Salary |
Increase % |
||
---|---|---|---|---|
Jim Hallett |
$900,000 | 0% | ||
Eric Loughmiller |
$500,000 | 11.11% | ||
Don Gottwald |
$583,000 | 2.9% | ||
Stéphane St-Hilaire |
$472,770 | 3% | ||
Peter Kelly |
$453,000 | 3% |
The Compensation Committee did not approve a base salary adjustment for Mr. Hallett because the Compensation Committee determined that his base salary was already set at competitive levels. In order to confirm competitiveness of compensation, the Compensation Committee reviews survey data and proxy compensation data of other companies.
Annual Cash Incentive Programs
General. Named executive officers with greater job responsibilities have a significant proportion of their annual cash compensation tied to Company performance through their annual incentive opportunity.
The KAR Auction Services, Inc. Annual Incentive Program. Under the KAR Auction Services, Inc. Annual Incentive Program (the "Annual Incentive Program"), which is part of the KAR Auction Services, Inc. 2009 Omnibus Stock and Incentive Plan, as amended (the "Omnibus Plan"), the grant of cash-based awards to eligible participants is contingent upon the achievement of certain pre-established corporate performance goals as determined by the Compensation Committee.
Use of 2016 Adjusted EBITDA
In 2016, the Compensation Committee used "2016 Adjusted EBITDA" for KAR Auction Services, ADESA and/or Digital Services, depending upon the named executive officer, as the relevant metric for determining awards under the Annual Incentive Program.
"Adjusted EBITDA" is equal to EBITDA (earnings before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization) adjusted to exclude, among other things:
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34 |
Using these measures, the Compensation Committee establishes, on an annual basis, specific targets that determine the size of payouts under the Annual Incentive Plan. In 2016, the annual incentive opportunity for each named executive officer was as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
Bonus Goal Weighting % | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Bonus Opportunity | ||||||||||||
|
|
2016 Adjusted EBITDA | ||||||||||||
|
|
Threshold % of Base Salary |
Target % of Base Salary |
Superior % of Base Salary |
||||||||||
Name
|
Base Salary |
KAR Auction Services |
ADESA |
Digital Services |
||||||||||
Jim Hallett | $900,000 | 50 | 100 | 150 | 100 | | | |||||||
Eric Loughmiller | $450,000 | 37.5 | 75 | 112.5 | 100 | |||||||||
Don Gottwald | $566,500 | 50 | 100 | 150 | 100 | | | |||||||
Stéphane St-Hilaire | $459,000 | 50 | 100 | 150 | 50 | 50 | ||||||||
Peter Kelly | $440,000 | 50 | 100 | 150 | 50 | | 50 |
The chart below reflects Adjusted EBITDA performance metrics and actual results for 2016. The payout percentages are based on the achievement of the performance metrics set forth below, with payment amounts prorated for performance between the established levels.
Target Incentive Opportunity: Base Pay multiplied by Individual Target Opportunity Business Performance Factor: 2016 Adjusted EBITDA of KAR (50% or 100%) and 2016 Adjusted EBITDA of Business Unit (0% to 50%) |
Performance Targets for the Annual Incentive Program
The Compensation Committee reviews the Company's business plan approved by the Board and determines the level of performance required to receive threshold, target and superior annual incentive payouts. The Compensation Committee established the performance objectives in amounts which it believed would increase stockholder value and be achievable given a sustained performance on the part of the named executive officers and which would require increasingly greater results to achieve the target and superior objectives. The Compensation Committee may decrease the potential payouts at each performance target if, in the discretion
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35 |
of the Compensation Committee, the circumstances warrant such an adjustment. In 2016, the Compensation Committee did not increase or decrease the performance targets or the payouts of any 2016 annual incentive program payout.
2016 Performance Targets. The chart which follows provides the 2016 Adjusted EBITDA performance targets established by the Compensation Committee for 2016 as well as the actual level of performance achieved (dollars in millions):
|
Threshold |
Target |
Superior |
Achieved Results(1)(2) |
Percentage of Target Annual Incentive Award Earned |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
KAR Auction Services |
$656.8 | $710.0 | $745.5 | $725.4 | 121.6% | |||||
ADESA |
$321.4 | $347.3 | $381.9 | $382.9 | 150% | |||||
Digital Services |
$57.2 | $61.9 | $68.2 | $79.6 | 150% |
2016 Annual Incentive Opportunities. Under the Annual Incentive Program, threshold performance objectives must be met in order for any payout to occur. Payouts can range from 50% of target awards for performance at threshold up to a maximum of 150% of target awards for superior performance or no payout if performance is below threshold. The table below shows the annual incentive opportunities for our named executive officers for 2016. Because KAR Auction Services, ADESA and Digital Services each achieved at least the threshold level of performance in 2016, each of our named executive officers was eligible to receive an award under the Annual Incentive Program in 2017, which are set forth in the "Summary Compensation Table for 2016" on page 44. Based on the Company's performance during 2016, and the accompanying payout percentages for the different performance goals set forth above, our named executive officers earned the following percentages and corresponding payout amounts of their target annual incentive awards:
Name
|
Target Annual Incentive Award |
Percentage of Target Annual Incentive Award Earned |
2016 Payout |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jim Hallett |
$900,000 | 121.6% | $1,094,772 | |||
Eric Loughmiller |
$337,500 | 121.6% | $410,540 | |||
Don Gottwald |
$566,500 | 121.6% | $689,098 | |||
Stéphane St-Hilaire |
$459,000 | 135.8% | (1) | $623,417 | ||
Peter Kelly |
$440,000 | 135.8% | (1) | $597,611 |
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Long-Term Incentive Opportunities
The Company provides long-term incentive compensation opportunities in the form of PRSUs and RSUs, each as described below.
2016 Long-Term Incentive Awards. As previously disclosed, on February 22, 2016, the Compensation Committee granted PRSUs and RSUs under its long-term incentive program to the Company's named executive officers, as described in the table below. The Company did not grant any stock options to its named executive officers in 2016. Awards were based on the individual's ability to impact future results, job scope, individual performance and a review of competitive pay practices. Mr. Loughmiller's 2016 award was enhanced for retentive purposes due to the fact that Mr. Loughmiller did not have any equity grants that carried forward following the sale by our former equity sponsors of all of their holdings of our common stock in late 2013.
The aggregate target award value for each named executive officer was allocated such that 75% of the value was in the form of PRSUs and 25% of the value was in the form of RSUs.
Name | Target PRSUs (Cumulative Operating Adjusted Net Income Per Share Goal) |
Value of Target Shares at Grant |
RSUs | Value of RSUs at Grant |
||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jim Hallett |
65,651 | $2,280,059 | 21,884 | $760,031 | ||||
Eric Loughmiller |
28,298 | $982,790 | 9,433 | $327,608 | ||||
Don Gottwald |
16,031 | $556,757 | 5,344 | $185,597 | ||||
Stéphane St-Hilaire |
10,391 | $360,879 | 3,464 | $120,305 | ||||
Peter Kelly |
9,961 | $345,946 | 3,321 | $115,338 |
2016 Performance-Based RSU Awards
The PRSUs will vest if and to the extent that the Company's "Cumulative Operating Adjusted Net Income Per Share" exceeds certain levels over the three-year period beginning on January 1, 2016. "Cumulative Operating Adjusted Net Income Per Share" means the sum of the Company's Operating Adjusted Net Income Per Share for the three fiscal years in the measurement period beginning on January 1, 2016 and ending on December 31, 2018.
"Cumulative Operating Adjusted Net Income Per Share" for a fiscal year is calculated by dividing Operating Adjusted Net Income by the weighted average diluted common shares outstanding per year. "Operating Adjusted Net Income" for a fiscal year is equal to the Company's net income as reported in the Form 10-K filed by the Company with respect to such fiscal year, adjusted to (i) exclude gains/losses from certain non-recurring and unbudgeted capital transactions, including debt prepayment, debt refinancing, share repurchases and related financing costs not contemplated in the long term incentive targets; (ii) exclude amortization expense associated with acquired intangible assets recorded during purchase accounting of acquisitions; (iii) exclude acquisition contingent consideration; (iv) exclude the impact of significant acts of God or other events outside of the Company's control that may affect the overall economic environment; (v) exclude significant asset impairments; (vi) exclude the impact of adoption of new accounting standards; and (vii) exclude the impact of tax rate changes caused by changes in tax legislation.
The amount of the target PRSUs actually earned and paid in shares of common stock in a lump sum following the performance period will be: 0% for below threshold performance, 50% for threshold performance, 100% for target performance and up to 200% for achieving the maximum performance level or higher. Linear interpolation will be used to calculate the percentage of PRSUs earned and paid if performance falls between the levels described above.
2016 Time-Based RSU Awards
The RSUs will vest and convert into shares of common stock of the Company on each of the first three anniversaries of the grant date, subject to the named executive officer's continued employment with the Company through each such anniversary, provided that the Company has achieved the Section 162(m)
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performance goal of $100 million in adjusted net income in its 2016 fiscal year (as reported in the Form 10-K filed by the Company with respect to such fiscal year, and which condition was satisfied).
Prior Years' Awards.
2015 Performance-Based and Time-Based RSU Awards
As previously disclosed, on February 20, 2015, the Compensation Committee granted PRSUs and RSUs to certain of the Company's named executive officers, which remain outstanding. The amounts of PRSUs and RSUs are disclosed in the "Outstanding Equity Awards" table below.
These awards have terms substantially similar to those granted in 2016. As of December 30, 2016, one-third of the RSUs vested, as disclosed in the "Option Exercises and Stock Vested" table below.
2014 PRSU Awards
As previously disclosed, on February 27, 2014, the Compensation Committee approved the grant of PRSUs to certain of the Company's named executive officers. The number of PRSUs that vested on March 7, 2017 was determined as follows: (i) fifty percent was determined based on the Company's Cumulative Adjusted Net Income Per Share ("CANIPS") exceeding certain levels over the three-year period beginning on January 1, 2014 and ending on December 31, 2016; and (ii) fifty percent was determined based on the Company's TSR relative to that of companies within the S&P 500 Index over a three-year period from February 27, 2014 through February 27, 2017.
Performance Metric: CANIPS
The number of PRSUs that vested based on CANIPS achieved was determined in accordance with the chart below:
CANIPS During the Measurement Period
|
Number of PRSUs Vesting | |
---|---|---|
Below Threshold: |
||
Below $4.18 |
0% of Target | |
Threshold: |
||
$4.18 |
50% of Target | |
Target: |
||
$4.52 |
100% of Target | |
Maximum: |
||
Greater than or equal to $5.42 |
200% of Target |
The Company achieved CANIPS of $4.75 versus a target of $4.52 for the three-year performance period ended December 31, 2016. As such, on March 7, 2017, based on the CANIPS achieved, fifty percent of the 2014 PRSUs vested above the target level but below the maximum level and resulted in the following number of PRSUs vesting:
Name
|
Number of PRSUs Vesting | 2017 CANIPS Payout(1) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Jim Hallett |
29,984 | $1,340,885 | ||
Eric Loughmiller |
14,992 | $670,443 | ||
Stéphane St-Hilaire |
5,997 | $268,165 |
| | |
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Performance Metric: TSR
The number of PRSUs that vested based on TSR achieved was determined in accordance with the chart below:
TSR Percentile Rank vs. S&P 500 During the Measurement Period |
Number of PRSUs Vesting | |
---|---|---|
Below Threshold: |
||
Below 40th percentile |
0% of Target | |
Threshold: |
||
40th percentile |
50% of Target | |
Target: |
||
65th percentile |
100% of Target | |
Maximum: |
||
Greater than or equal to 85th percentile |
200% of Target |
On March 7, 2017, based on TSR achieved, fifty percent of the 2014 PRSUs vested at the maximum level described in the table above (earned based on relative TSR at the 87th percentile) and resulted in the following number of PRSUs vesting:
Name
|
Number of PRSUs Vesting | 2017 TSR Payout(1) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Jim Hallett |
47,974 | $2,145,416 | ||
Eric Loughmiller |
23,987 | $1,072,708 | ||
Stéphane St-Hilaire |
9,597 | $429,162 |
2013 PRSU Awards
As previously disclosed, on December 13, 2013, the Compensation Committee approved the grant of PRSUs to certain of the Company's named executive officers which vested on December 15, 2016. The number of PRSUs that vested was determined in accordance with the chart below based on the Company's TSR relative to that of companies within the S&P 500 Index over a three-year period from December 13, 2013 through December 13, 2016.
TSR Percentile Rank vs. S&P 500 During the Measurement Period |
Number of PRSUs Vesting | |
---|---|---|
Below Threshold: |
||
Below 40th percentile |
0% of Target | |
Threshold: |
||
40th percentile |
50% of Target | |
Target: |
||
65th percentile |
100% of Target | |
Maximum: |
||
Greater than or equal to 85th percentile |
200% of Target |
On December 15, 2016, such PRSUs vested at 199% of target as described in the table above (earned based on relative TSR at the 84.8th percentile) and resulted in the following number of PRSUs vesting:
Name
|
Number of PRSUs Vesting | 2016 Payout(1) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Jim Hallett |
293,081 | $12,675,759 | ||
Eric Loughmiller |
146,542 | $6,337,927 |
Plans under which Long-Term Incentive Awards are Granted. The Company currently grants long-term incentive awards under the Omnibus Plan and formerly granted awards under the Stock Incentive Plan.
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39 |
Omnibus Plan
Our Board initially adopted the Omnibus Plan on December 10, 2009, as amended. Under the Omnibus Plan, participants are eligible to receive options, restricted stock, RSUs, stock appreciation rights, other stock-based awards or cash-based awards, each as determined by the Compensation Committee.
Stock Incentive Plan
The Stock Incentive Plan was in effect prior to our initial public offering and was subsequently frozen as of December 10, 2009. No further awards have been issued under this plan.
Retirement, Health and Welfare Benefits
We offer a variety of health and welfare and retirement programs to all eligible employees, including our named executive officers. As with all Company employees, our named executive officers are eligible to receive 401(k) employer matching contributions equal to 100% of the first 4% of compensation contributed by the named executive officer. The health and welfare programs are intended to protect employees against catastrophic loss and encourage a healthy lifestyle. Our health and welfare programs include medical, dental, vision, pharmacy, life insurance, disability and accidental death and disability. We also provide travel insurance to all employees who travel for business purposes.
We also provide certain enhanced retirement vesting of equity-incentive awards as described in "Potential Payments Upon Termination of Change in ControlPotential Payments Upon Termination of Change of Control Table".
Perquisites
The Company provides the named executive officers a limited number of perquisites that the Compensation Committee believes are reasonable and consistent with the objective of attracting and retaining highly qualified executive officers. The perquisites which are currently available to certain of our named executive officers include an automobile allowance or use of a Company-owned automobile, an allowance for executive physicals and Company-paid group term life insurance premiums. Please see footnote 4 to the "Summary Compensation Table for 2016" on page 44 for more information regarding perquisites.
Employment and Severance Agreements
The Compensation Committee recognizes that, from time to time, it is appropriate to enter into agreements with our executive officers to ensure that we continue to retain their services and to promote stability and continuity within the Company. All of our named executive officers have an employment agreement with the Company or one of its subsidiaries. A description of these agreements can be found in the section titled "Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in ControlEmployment Agreements with Named Executive Officers."
Tax and Accounting Considerations
Employment Agreements. Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") and related provisions impose substantial excise taxes under Section 4999 of the Code on so-called "excess parachute payments" payable to certain named executive officers upon a change in control and results in the loss of the compensation deduction for such payments by the Company.
Mr. Hallett's employment agreement, which became effective as of February 27, 2012, provides for a potential "gross-up payment" in the event that such excise taxes result from any excess parachute payments. Mr. Hallett's employment agreement provides that in the event that any payment or benefit under such agreement in connection with Mr. Hallett's employment or termination of employment is or becomes subject to an excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code, then the Company will make a cash payment to Mr. Hallett, which, after the imposition of all income, employment, excise and other taxes thereon, as well as any penalty
| | |
40 |
and interest assessments associated therewith, will be sufficient to place Mr. Hallett in the same after-tax position as he would have been in had such excise tax not been applied. However, in the event that a reduction of the total payments to Mr. Hallett would avoid the application of the excise tax, then the total payments will be reduced to the extent necessary to avoid the excise tax, but in no event by more than 10% of the original amount of the total payments.
None of the employment agreements entered into with Messrs. Loughmiller, Gottwald, St-Hilaire or Kelly contain excise tax gross-up provisions.
Omnibus Plan. Certain awards under the Omnibus Plan are designed so that they may comply with the performance-based compensation exception to the $1,000,000 per person annual deductibility limit under Section 162(m) of the Code ("Section 162(m)") applicable to Covered Employees (as defined in Section 162(m)). Though tax deductibility is one of many factors considered by the Compensation Committee when determining executive compensation, the Compensation Committee retains the discretion to award compensation that exceeds or does not qualify for the Section 162(m) deductibility limit. For example, in seeking to tie executive pay to company performance in a meaningful way, the Compensation Committee may make decisions in designing and approving pay programs that are not driven by tax consequences to the Company.
Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation. We account for stock-based compensation in accordance with the requirements of ASC 718.
Clawback Policy for Financial Restatements. The Company's clawback policy provides for the recovery of incentive compensation in the event the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to any current or former executive officer's intentional misconduct. In such an event, the executive officer would be required to repay to the Company the excess amount of incentive compensation received under the inaccurate financial statement. The Company intends to revise this policy as needed to comply with the requirements of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act when such requirements become effective.
Insider Trading Policy
Our insider trading policy expressly prohibits:
We also prohibit officers, directors and employees from:
Our executives and directors are permitted to enter into trading plans that are intended to comply with the requirements of Rule 10b5-1 of the Exchange Act so that they can prudently diversify their asset portfolios and exercise their stock options before their scheduled expiration dates.
Anti-Hedging Policy
In addition to the Company's existing anti-pledging of Company stock policy, the Company adopted a formal anti-hedging of Company stock policy, which prohibits our officers and directors from engaging in certain forms of hedging or monetization transactions with respect to the Company's stock, such as prepaid variable forward contracts, equity swaps, collars and exchange funds.
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41 |
Stock Ownership Guidelines and Stock Holding Requirement
The Compensation Committee adopted the following stock ownership guidelines which are applicable to our named executive officers:
Title
|
Stock Ownership Guideline | |
---|---|---|
CEO | 5 times annual base salary | |
Other Named Executive Officers | 3 times annual base salary |
The named executive officers must hold 60% of the vested shares, net of taxes, of Company stock received under awards granted on or after January 1, 2015 until the applicable ownership guideline is met. All named executive officers are in compliance with the stock ownership guidelines.
At the Company's 2014 annual meeting of stockholders, the Company held a non-binding stockholder vote on executive compensation (commonly referred to as "Say on Pay"). At the meeting, excluding broker non-votes, over 95% of the votes on the matter were cast to approve the Company's executive compensation programs, less than 4% of the votes were cast against, and less than 1% abstained from voting.
The Compensation Committee considered the results of the vote, including the appropriateness of the compensation philosophy and objectives, the role of the Compensation Committee and executive officers in setting compensation, the elements used to achieve the compensation philosophy and objectives and the levels of compensation provided to the named executive officers. Following its review, the Compensation Committee decided to retain the Company's general approach to executive compensation in 2015, 2016 and 2017, in part due to the significant majority of stockholders that voted to approve the Company's executive compensation programs at the 2014 annual meeting of stockholders.
Previously, at the Company's 2011 annual meeting of stockholders, the Company held a non-binding stockholder vote on whether to hold a Say on Pay vote every one, two or three years. At that meeting, a majority of our stockholders voted in favor of holding a Say on Pay vote every three years, and accordingly, the Company adopted a triennial Say on Pay vote frequency. As described in more detail in Proposal No. 3 above, the Board now recommends that stockholders adopt an annual Say on Pay vote frequency to enable stockholders to provide more frequent, direct input to the Company regarding its executive compensation philosophy, policies and practices.
The Compensation Committee has reviewed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis for executive compensation for 2016 and discussed that analysis with management. Based on its review and discussions with management, the Compensation Committee recommended to our Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement and incorporated by reference into the Company's 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K. This report is submitted by Donna R. Ecton, Todd F. Bourell, Lynn Jolliffe and John P. Larson, being all current members of the Compensation Committee, and J. Mark Howell, who was a member of the Compensation Committee for a portion of 2016.
Compensation Committee
Donna R. Ecton (Chairman)
Todd F. Bourell
J. Mark Howell
Lynn Jolliffe
John P. Larson
| | |
42 |
The Compensation Committee considers the potential risks in our business when designing and administering the Company's pay program, and the Compensation Committee believes its balanced approach to performance measurement and pay delivery works to avoid misaligned incentives for individuals to undertake excessive or inappropriate risk. Further, program administration is subject to considerable internal controls, and when determining the principal outcomesperformance assessments and pay decisionsthe Compensation Committee relies on principles of sound governance and good business judgment. As part of its responsibilities to annually review all incentive compensation and equity-based plans, and evaluate whether the compensation arrangements of the Company's employees incentivize unnecessary and excessive risk-taking, the Compensation Committee evaluated the risk profile of all of the Company's compensation policies and practices for 2016.
In its evaluation, the Compensation Committee reviewed the Company's employee compensation structures and noted numerous design elements that manage and mitigate risk without diminishing the incentive nature of the compensation. There is a balanced mix between cash and equity and between annual and longer-term incentives. In addition, annual incentive awards and long-term incentive awards granted to executives are tied to corporate performance goals, including Adjusted EBITDA and Cumulative Operating Adjusted Net Income Per Share. These metrics encourage performance that supports the business as a whole. The executive annual incentive awards include a maximum payout opportunity equal to 150% of target. Our executives are also expected to meet share ownership guidelines in order to align the executives' interests with those of our stockholders. Also, the Company's clawback policy permits the Company to recover incentive compensation paid to an executive officer if the compensation resulted from any financial result or metric impacted by the executive officer's intentional misconduct. This policy helps to discourage inappropriate risks, as executives will be held accountable for misconduct which is harmful to the Company's financial and reputational health.
The Compensation Committee also reviewed the Company's compensation programs for certain design features that may have the potential to encourage excessive risk-taking, including: over-weighting towards annual incentives, highly leveraged payout curves, unreasonable thresholds and steep payout cliffs at certain performance levels that may encourage short-term business decisions to meet payout thresholds. The Compensation Committee concluded that the Company's compensation programs (i) do not include such elements; or (ii) have implemented features, steps and controls that are designed to limit risks of our compensation arrangements. In light of these analyses, the Compensation Committee concluded that the Company has a balanced pay and performance program that does not encourage excessive risk-taking that is reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.
| | |
43 |
The table below contains information concerning the compensation of (i) our chief executive officer; (ii) our chief financial officer; and (iii) each of the three other most highly compensated executive officers who were serving as our executive officers as of December 31, 2016.
Name and Principal Position |
Year | Salary | Stock Awards(1) |
Option Awards(2) |
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation(3) |
All Other Compensation(4) |
Total | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jim Hallett, |
| 2016 | $900,000 | $3,040,091 | | $1,094,772 | $43,220 | $5,078,083 | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
CEO and Chairman |
| 2015 | $900,000 | $2,856,908 | | $1,023,613 | $43,420 | $4,823,941 | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| 2014 | $900,000 | $1,477,796 | $1,283,066 | $1,106,118 | $41,340 | $4,808,320 | ||||||||
Eric Loughmiller, |
2016 | $450,000 | $1,310,398 | | $410,540 | $46,780 | $2,217,717 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
EVP and CFO |
2015 | $450,000 | $1,322,651 | | $383,855 | $37,456 | $2,193,962 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
2014 | $442,534 | $738,898 | $641,546 | $407,913 | $32,026 | $2,262,917 | |||||||||
Don Gottwald, |
| 2016 | $566,500 | $742,354 | | $689,098 | $32,454 | $2,046,906 | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Chief Operating |
| 2015 | $550,000 | $727,480 | | $625,541 | $31,385 | $1,934,406 | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Officer |
| 2014 | $523,388 | | | $617,391 | $29,750 | $1,170,529 | ||||||||
Stéphane St-Hilaire, |
2016 | $459,000 | $481,184 | | $623,417 | $64,803 | $1,628,404 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
CEO and President |
2015 | $447,937 | $476,188 | | $553,145 | $80,059 | $1,557,329 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
of ADESA |
2014 | $434,363 | $295,582 | $256,634 | $456,113 | $93,051 | $1,535,743 | |||||||||
Peter Kelly, |
| 2016 | $440,000 | $461,284 | | $597,611 | $32,146 | $1,531,041 | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
CTO and President of |
| 2015 | $400,000 | $423,287 | | $527,470 | $29,949 | $1,380,706 | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Digital Services |
| 2014 | $396,413 | | | $487,199 | $30,797 | $914,409 |
| | |
44 |
The following table summarizes the payouts which our named executive officers could or may have received upon the achievement of certain performance objectives under the Annual Incentive Program and the grants of PRSUs and RSUs made under the Omnibus Plan in 2016. We did not grant any option awards in 2016.
|
|
Estimated Future Payouts under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards(1) |
Estimated Future Payouts under Equity Incentive Plan Awards(2) |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name (a) |
Grant Date (b) |
Threshold ($)(c)(1) |
Target ($)(d)(1) |
Maximum ($)(e)(1) |
Threshold (#)(f)(2) |
Target (#)(g)(2) |
Maximum (#)(h)(2) |
Number of Securities Underlying Restricted Stock Units (#)(3)(i) |
Grant Date Fair Value of Stock Awards ($)(4)(l) |
|||||||||||||||||||
Jim Hallett |
| | | 450,000 | | 900,000 | | 1,350,000 | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| 2/22/2016 | | | | | | | | 32,826 | | 65,651 | | 131,302 | | | | 2,280,059 | ||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| 2/22/2016 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 21,884 | | 760,031 | ||||||||||
Eric Loughmiller |
| 225,000 | 450,000 | 675,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
2/22/2016 | 14,149 | 28,298 | 56,596 | 982,790 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
2/22/2016 | 9,433 | 327,608 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Don Gottwald |
| | | 283,250 | | 566,500 | | 849,750 | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| 2/22/2016 | | | | | | | | 8,016 | | 16,031 | | 32,062 | | | | 556,757 | ||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| 2/22/2016 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5,344 | | 185,597 | ||||||||||
Stéphane St-Hilaire |
| 229,500 | 459,000 | 688,500 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
2/22/2016 | 5,196 | 10,391 | 20,782 | 360,879 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
2/22/2016 | 3,464 | 120,305 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Peter Kelly |
| | | 220,000 | | 440,000 | | 660,000 | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| 2/22/2016 | | | | | | | | 4,981 | | 9,961 | | 19,922 | | | | 345,946 | ||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| 2/22/2016 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3,321 | | 115,338 |
Additional information concerning our cash and equity incentive plans may be found in the sections titled "Compensation Discussion and AnalysisElements Used to Achieve Compensation Philosophy and ObjectivesAnnual Cash Incentive Programs" and "Long-Term Incentive Opportunities," respectively.
| | |
45 |
|
Option Awards | Stock Awards | ||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name (a) |
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable (b) |
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable (c) |
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Unearned Options (#) (d) |
Option Exercise Price ($) (e) |
Option Expiration Date (f) |
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights that have Not Vested (#) (i) |
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights that have Not Vested ($) (j) |
|||||||||||||||
Jim Hallett |
| 150,000 | | | | | | 13.46 | | 03/01/2020 | | | | | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| 97,202 | | 97,202(1 | ) | | | | 30.89 | | 02/27/2024 | | | | | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | 47,633(2 | ) | | 2,030,107(2 | ) | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | 47,633(3 | ) | | 2,030,107(3 | ) | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | 121,783(4 | ) | | 5,190,377(4 | ) | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | 12,862(5 | ) | | 574,946(5 | ) | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | 134,110(6 | ) | | 5,715,779(6 | ) | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | 21,884(7 | ) | | 952,823(7 | ) | ||||||
Eric Loughmiller |
48,602 | 48,602(1 | ) | 30.89 | 02/27/2024 | |||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
23,816(2 | ) | 1,015,054(2 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
23,816(3 | ) | 1,015,054(3 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
56,381(4 | ) | 2,402,967(4 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
5,954(5 | ) | 266,152(5 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
57,806(6 | ) | 2,463,711(6 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
9,433(7 | ) | 410,710(7 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Don Gottwald |
| 116,250 | | | | | | 10.00 | | 05/06/2019 | | | | | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | 31,010(4 | ) | | 1,321,650(4 | ) | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | 3,275(5 | ) | | 146,397(5 | ) | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | 30,162(6 | ) | | 1,285,493(6 | ) | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | 5,344(7 | ) | | 232,676(7 | ) | ||||||
Stéphane St-Hilaire |
72,768 | 13.46 | 03/01/2020 | |||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
19,442 | 19,442(1 | ) | 30.89 | 02/27/2024 | |||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
9,528(2 | ) | 406,092(2 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
9,526(3 | ) | 406,007(3 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
20,298(4 | ) | 865,108(4 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
2,144(5 | ) | 95,937(5 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
21,226(6 | ) | 904,673(6 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
3,464(7 | ) | 150,821(7 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Peter Kelly |
| 185,000 | | | | | | 12.97 | | 11/04/2021 | | | | | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | 18,043(4 | ) | | 768,975(4 | ) | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | 1,906(5 | ) | | 85,287(5 | ) | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | 20,348(6 | ) | | 867,235(6 | ) | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | 3,321(7 | ) | | 144,595(7 | ) |
| | |
46 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
|
Name |
Amount | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
|
Jim Hallett |
| $26,767 | | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
|
Eric Loughmiller |
$12,392 | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
|
Don Gottwald |
| $6,816 | | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
|
Stéphane St-Hilaire |
$4,560 | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
|
Peter Kelly |
| $4,053 | | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | |
47 |
stock at the close of the last trading day in 2016, which was $42.62 per share. The total amount in column (j) includes accrued and unpaid cash dividend equivalents in the following amounts:
| | | | | | | | | | |
|
Name |
Amount | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
|
Jim Hallett |
| $20,126 | | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
|
Eric Loughmiller |
$8,675 | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
|
Don Gottwald |
| $4,915 | | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
|
Stéphane St-Hilaire |
$3,186 | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
|
Peter Kelly |
| $3,054 | | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | |
48 |
|
Option Awards | Stock Awards | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name (a) |
Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise (#) (b) |
Value Realized on Exercise ($) (c) |
Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting (#) (d) |
Value Realized on Vesting ($) (e) |
|||||||||
Jim Hallett | | | | | | 299,512 (1) | | 12,898,400 (3) | |||||
Eric Loughmiller | | | 149,520 (1) | 6,442,097 (3) | |||||||||
Don Gottwald | | 48,750 | | 1,442,332 | | 1,638 (2) | | 56,707 (3) | |||||
Stéphane St-Hilaire | 59,335 | 1,751,311 | 1,072 (2) | 37,113 (3) | |||||||||
Peter Kelly | | 60,000 | | 1,649,886 | | 953 (2) | | 32,993 (3) |
| | |
49 |
The following is a discussion of the treatment of equity-based awards held by our named executive officers and annual cash incentive awards due to our named executive officers upon certain types of employment terminations or the occurrence of a change in control of the Company. For a discussion of our named executive officers' severance payments and the treatment of their annual cash incentive awards that may become due upon certain types of employment terminations pursuant to their employment agreements, see "Employment Agreements with Named Executive Officers" below.
To the extent a named executive officer's employment agreement does not provide otherwise, the Stock Incentive Plan and the Omnibus Plan (and the related award agreements thereunder) provide for the following treatment of stock options and other equity awards issued pursuant to the plans upon the termination of employment scenarios or a change in control, as set forth below. As a result of the Stock Incentive Plan being frozen by the Company on December 10, 2009, no additional stock options will be granted under this plan. Since December 10, 2009, all grants of stock options and other equity awards have been and will be made pursuant to the terms of the Omnibus Plan.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Termination or Change in Control Scenario | | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Award Type |
|
Voluntary Termination |
|
Termination by the Company for Cause |
|
Death, Disability or Retirement |
|
Termination without Cause or for Good Reason |
|
Effect of Change in Control or Exit Event |
| |||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Unless otherwise specified in an award agreement, all unvested equity-based awards under the Stock Incentive Plan and the Omnibus Plan will be forfeited upon a termination of employment for any reason. | | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Options |
Omnibus Plan: Voluntary resignation: vested options remain exercisable for 90 days (or until earlier expiration date). For Cause: all vested and unvested options are cancelled. Stock Incentive Plan: All vested and unvested options are cancelled. |
All vested options remain exercisable for one year (or until earlier expiration date). In the event of death or disability, all unvested options vest in full, with performance awards remaining subject to achievement of goals. |
Unless otherwise specified in an award agreement, vested options remain exercisable for 90 days (or until earlier expiration date). | Single trigger vesting with committee discretion to cash out or substitute with successor company awards. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | |
50 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Termination or Change in Control Scenario | | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Award Type |
|
Voluntary Termination |
|
Termination by the Company for Cause |
|
Death, Disability or Retirement |
|
Termination without Cause or for Good Reason |
|
Effect of Change in Control or Exit Event |
| |||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
2014 TSR PRSUs 2014 CANIPS PRSUs 2015 PRSUs 2016 PRSUs |
| Automatic forfeiture. | |
Without Cause or for Good Reason: Prorated portion of the PRSUs based on the Company's actual performance during the performance period and the number of full months he/she was employed during such performance period.
Death or Disability: Full vesting of PRSU award based on the Company's actual performance during the performance period. Retirement: For 2016 PRSUs Prorated potion of the PRSUs based on the Company's actual performance during the performance period and the number of months worked through the retirement date (including the "early retirement date" which is the date of the executive's voluntary termination of employment after attaining a combination of years of age and service with the Company and its affiliates of at least 70, with a minimum age of 60) plus a credit of an additional 12 months. |
|
2014 TSR PRSUs: Double trigger vesting based on actual performance through date of Change in Control. 2014 CANIPS PRSUs: Double trigger vesting at target performance level. 2015/2016 PRSUs: Single trigger vesting at target performance level.* |
| ||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2015 RSUs 2016 RSUs |
Voluntary Termination (with or without Good Reason), or Termination by the Company (for Cause or without Cause): Forfeiture of any unvested 2015 RSUs. Death or Disability: Full vesting of any unvested 2015 or 2016 RSUs. Retirement: Forfeiture of any unvested 2015 RSUs. Immediate vesting (subject to achievement of adjusted net income target) of any unvested 2016 RSUs scheduled to vest in the 12 months following the retirement date (including the "early retirement date") and a prorated portion of the 2016 RSUs based on the number of full months he/she was employed since the most recent anniversary of the grant date (after giving 12 months vesting credit following the date of retirement). |
Single trigger vesting if adjusted net income goal is attained.* | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Unless specified otherwise in a named executive officer's employment agreement, the termination of a named executive officer's employment with the Company or any subsidiary shall be deemed to be for "cause" under the Omnibus Plan and the Stock Incentive Plan upon any of the following events: (i) the refusal or neglect of the named executive officer to perform substantially his employment-related duties; (ii) the named executive officer's personal dishonesty, incompetence, willful misconduct, or breach of fiduciary duty; (iii) the named executive officer's indictment for, conviction of, or entering a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a crime constituting a felony or his willful violation of any applicable law; (iv) the named executive officer's failure to reasonably cooperate, following a request to do so by the Company or any subsidiary, in any internal or governmental investigation; or (v) the named executive officer's material breach of any written covenant or agreement not to disclose any information pertaining to the Company or any subsidiary or not to compete or interfere with the Company or any subsidiary.
Unless specified otherwise in a named executive officer's employment agreement, the termination of a named executive officer's employment with the Company or any subsidiary shall be deemed to be for "good reason" under the Stock Incentive Plan if such named executive officer voluntarily terminates his or her employment with the Company or any subsidiary as a result of (i) the Company or any subsidiary significantly reducing the named executive officer's current salary without the named executive officer's prior written consent; or (ii) the Company or any subsidiary taking any action that would substantially diminish the aggregate value of the benefits provided to the named executive officer under the Company's or such subsidiary's accident, disability, life insurance, or any other employee benefit plans in which the named executive officer participates. The Omnibus Plan does not provide a default "good reason" definition in the event such term is not specified in a named executive officer's employment agreement.
| | |
51 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Termination or Change in Control Scenario | | |||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Voluntary Termination |
|
Termination by the Company for Cause |
|
Death, Disability or Retirement |
|
Termination without Cause or for Good Reason |
|
Effect of Change in Control or Exit Event |
| |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Death, Disability, Voluntary Termination (with or without Good Reason) or Termination by the Company (for Cause or without Cause): Annual cash incentive awards are treated as described in the executive's employment
agreement with the Company, to the extent applicable. See "Employment Agreements with Named Executive Officers" above for more information. Retirement: Unless otherwise specified in an employment agreement, an executive receives a pro-rated amount of the incentive award based on actual performance for the performance period. |
| Unless otherwise determined by the administrator of the Omnibus Plan or as evidenced in an award agreement, pro rata payment based on actual performance, in the administrator's discretion. | | ||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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The amounts in the table below assume that the termination and/or change in control, as applicable, was effective as of December 30, 2016, the last business day of the prior fiscal year, and that the respective named executive officers exercised all options and/or received cash in exchange for vested PRSUs and RSUs at such time. The table is merely an illustrative example of the impact of a hypothetical termination of employment or change in control. The amounts that would actually be paid upon a termination of employment can only be determined at the time of such termination, based on the facts and circumstances then prevailing.
Named Executive Officer and Triggering Event |
Cash Severance |
Non- Equity Incentive Pay(1) |
Stock Options (2) |
PRSUs (3) |
RSUs (4) |
Excise Tax Gross- Up(5) |
Life Insurance (6) |
Total | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jim Hallett | |||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Death | | $1,094,772 | $1,140,179 | $7,536,836 | $1,527,768 | | $800,000 | $12,099,555 | ||||||||||
| Disability(7) | | $1,094,772 | $1,140,179 | $7,536,836 | $1,527,768 | | | $11,299,555 | ||||||||||
| Retirement(8) | | $1,094,772 | | $5,592,516 | $835,130 | | | $7,522,418 | ||||||||||
| Voluntary / for Cause | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||
| Termination w/o Cause or for Good Reason | $3,600,000(9) | $1,094,772 | | $4,633,054 | | | | $9,327,826 | ||||||||||
| CIC (single trigger) | | $1,094,772 | $1,140,179 | $7,536,836 | $1,527,768 | | | $11,299,555 | ||||||||||
| Termination after CIC (double trigger) | $3,600,000(9) | $1,094,772 | $1,140,179 | $7,536,836 | $1,527,768 | $3,248,649 | | $18,148,204 | ||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Eric Loughmiller | |||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Death | $21,165(10) | $410,540 | $570,101 | $3,473,189 | $676,890 | | $800,000 | $5,951,886 | ||||||||||
| Disability(7) | $21,165(10) | $410,540 | $570,101 | $3,473,189 | $676,890 | | | $5,151,886 | ||||||||||
| Retirement(8) | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||
| Voluntary / for Cause | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||
| Termination w/o Cause or for Good Reason | $808,665(9) | $410,540 | | $2,185,880 | | | | $3,405,086 | ||||||||||
| CIC (single trigger) | | $410,540 | $570,101 | $3,473,189 | $676,890 | | | $5,130,721 | ||||||||||
| Termination after CIC (double trigger) | $808,665(9) | $410,540 | $570,101 | $3,473,189 | $676,890 | | | $5,939,386 | ||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Don Gottwald | |||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Death | $30,208(10) | $689,098 | | $1,415,705 | $379,087 | | $800,000 | $3,314,098 | ||||||||||
| Disability(7) | $30,208(10) | $689,098 | | $1,415,705 | $379,087 | | | $2,514,098 | ||||||||||
| Retirement(8) | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||
| Voluntary / for Cause | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||
| Termination w/o Cause or for Good Reason | $1,841,125(9) | $689,098 | | $677,985 | | | | $3,208,208 | ||||||||||
| CIC (single trigger) | | $689,098 | | $1,368,400 | $379,087 | | | $2,436,585 | ||||||||||
| Termination after CIC (double trigger) | $1,841,125(9) | $689,098 | | $1,368,400 | $379,087 | | | $4,277,710 | ||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Stéphane St-Hilaire | |||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Death | $9,975(10) | $623,417 | $228,055 | $1,300,166 | $246,758 | | $800,000 | $3,208,371 | ||||||||||
| Disability(7) | $9,975(10) | $623,417 | $228,055 | $1,300,166 | $246,758 | | | $2,408,371 | ||||||||||
| Retirement(8) | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||
| Voluntary / for Cause | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||
| Termination w/o Cause or for Good Reason | $927,975(9) | $623,417 | | $828,516 | | | | $2,379,908 | ||||||||||
| CIC (single trigger) | | $623,417 | $228,055 | $1,300,166 | $246,758 | | | $2,398,396 | ||||||||||
| Termination after CIC (double trigger) | $927,975(9) | $623,417 | $228,055 | $1,300,166 | $246,758 | | | $3,326,371 | ||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Peter Kelly | |||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Death | $33,188(10) | $597,611 | | $823,972 | $229,882 | | $800,000 | $2,484,654 | ||||||||||
| Disability(7) | $33,188(10) | $597,611 | | $823,972 | $229,882 | | | $1,684,654 | ||||||||||
| Retirement(8) | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||
| Voluntary / for Cause | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||
| Termination w/o Cause or for Good Reason | $1,320,000(9) | $597,611 | | $403,739 | | | | $2,321,350 | ||||||||||
| CIC (single trigger) | | $597,611 | | $823,972 | $229,882 | | | $1,651,466 | ||||||||||
| Termination after CIC (double trigger) | $1,320,000(9) | $597,611 | | $823,972 | $229,882 | | | $2,971,466 | ||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Footnotes to Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control Table
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54 |
December 30, 2016 under the applicable award agreements (he had reached the age of 60 and had a combination of years of age and service with the Company and its affiliates of at least 70).
| | |
55 |
Each of our named executive officers has an employment agreement with the Company. A summary of each of the agreements is provided below.
CEO
Mr. Hallett's employment agreement, which became effective as of February 27, 2012, provides for the following severance and change of control payments:
Termination Due to Mr. Hallett's Death or Disability. If Mr. Hallett's employment is terminated as a result of his death or disability, we will pay Mr. Hallett, or in the case of his death, Mr. Hallett's estate or beneficiaries, an amount equal to the sum of (i) any accrued but unpaid base salary and accrued but unused vacation days; (ii) any earned and vested benefits and payments pursuant to the terms of any benefit plan (collectively, the amounts described in (i) and (ii) above are, the "Accrued Obligations"); and (iii) subject to Mr. Hallett or his estate executing a general release of any claims that he may have against the Company (the "Release"), any annual bonus for a prior completed calendar year that has not yet been calculated or paid to Mr. Hallett (the "Earned but Unpaid Bonus").
In addition, if Mr. Hallett is participating in the health plans of the Company at the time of his termination, we will pay him, or in the case of his death, his estate or beneficiaries, his or their premiums attributable to maintaining insurance coverage under COBRA for the shorter of (i) 18 months; or (ii) until Mr. Hallett becomes eligible for comparable coverage under the health plans of another employer (the "Continued Benefits"). Subject to receipt and effectiveness of the Release, we also will pay Mr. Hallett, or his estate or beneficiaries, a prorated bonus based upon the portion of the year during which Mr. Hallett was employed by us (the "Prorated Bonus").
For purposes of Mr. Hallett's employment agreement, "disability" means a "Total Disability" (or equivalent) as defined in the Company's long term disability plan in effect at the time of the disability.
Termination by the Company for Cause. Following a majority vote of the Board (excluding Mr. Hallett or any other employee of the Company), we may terminate Mr. Hallett's employment at any time for "Cause." In such event, our only obligation to Mr. Hallett would be the payment, in a lump sum, of Mr. Hallett's Accrued Obligations.
"Cause" is defined in the employment agreement to mean (i) Mr. Hallett's willful, continued and uncured failure to perform substantially his duties under the employment agreement for a period of 14 days following notice to Mr. Hallett of such failure; (ii) Mr. Hallett engaging in illegal conduct or gross misconduct that is demonstrably likely to lead to material injury to the Company; (iii) Mr. Hallett's indictment or conviction of, or plea of nolo contendere to, a crime constituting a felony or any other crime involving moral turpitude; or (iv) Mr. Hallett's failure to comply with the provisions of the employment agreement relating to confidential information, intellectual property, non-competition and non-solicitation which is not cured within the 14 day period following written notice to Mr. Hallett of such failure.
Termination by the Company Without Cause. Mr. Hallett's employment may be terminated without Cause at any time upon 30 days' prior written notice. In the event of a termination without Cause, the Company will pay Mr. Hallett the following "Severance Benefits": (i) two times the sum of Mr. Hallett's (a) annual base salary and (b) target bonus for the year in which termination occurs which, for this purpose, shall not equal less than 100% of Mr. Hallett's base salary; (ii) a Prorated Bonus in a lump sum; and (iii) the Continued Benefits. In addition to the Severance Benefits described above, we will also pay Mr. Hallett the Accrued Obligations and any Earned but Unpaid Bonus.
Termination by Mr. Hallett for Good Reason. Mr. Hallett may terminate his employment for "Good Reason" within 90 days following the occurrence of an event constituting "Good Reason," if such event remains uncured for a period of 30 days following notice of the event by Mr. Hallett to the Company. Upon such termination, the Company will pay Mr. Hallett the sum of the Severance Benefits, the Accrued Obligations and any Earned but Unpaid Bonus.
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56 |
"Good Reason" is defined in the employment agreement to mean the occurrence of any of the following:
Termination by Mr. Hallett without Good Reason. Mr. Hallett may terminate his employment under the employment agreement at any time without Good Reason upon 30 days' prior written notice. In such event, we will pay Mr. Hallett a lump sum amount equal to the Accrued Obligations.
Termination by Mr. Hallett upon Retirement. Mr. Hallett may voluntarily terminate his employment under the employment agreement due to retirement by announcing his retirement at least 12 months prior to such termination. In the event of such a termination, we will pay Mr. Hallett a lump sum amount equal to the Accrued Obligations and a Prorated Bonus.
Excise Tax Gross-Up. As described above in "Compensation Policies and Other InformationTax and Accounting ConsiderationsEmployment Agreements," Mr. Hallett's employment agreement provides that in the event that any payment or benefit in connection with his employment is or becomes subject to an excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code, the Company will make a cash payment to Mr. Hallett, which after the imposition of all income, employment, excise and other taxes thereon as well as any penalty and interest assessments associated therewith, will be sufficient to place Mr. Hallett in the same after-tax position as he would have been in had such excise tax not applied. However, in the event that a reduction of the total payments due to Mr. Hallett would avoid the application of the excise tax, then the total payments will be reduced to the extent necessary to avoid the excise tax, but in no event by more than 10% of the original amount of the total payments due.
Requirements With Respect to Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation. Upon a termination of employment for any reason, Mr. Hallett is subject to the following two year post-termination restrictive covenants (except in the case of retirement): (i) non-competition restrictions; and (ii) non-solicitation of Company employees and customers.
Other Named Executive Officers
The Company has entered into substantially similar employment agreements with Messrs. Loughmiller, Gottwald, St-Hilaire and Kelly, providing for their at-will employment and the following severance and change of control payments.
Termination Due to Death or Disability. If Messrs. Loughmiller, Gottwald, St-Hilaire or Kelly terminates his employment due to death or disability, the Company will be obligated to pay to the executive (or his legal representatives) an amount equal to the sum of (i) any earned but unpaid base salary; (ii) accrued but unpaid vacation earned through the date of termination; (iii) unreimbursed business expenses; and (iv) any vested employee benefits. The aggregate of the foregoing is referred to as the "Accrued Obligations." In addition, the executive or his estate/beneficiaries would be entitled to receive (i) COBRA premium payments for 12 months or until the executive becomes eligible for coverage under another employer's health plan, if the executive is participating in the Company's health plans on the date of such termination of employment (the "Continued
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57 |
Benefits"); (ii) the prorated portion of his annual bonus for the calendar year in which such termination of employment occurred, calculated based on the executive's actual performance and based on the number of days the executive was employed by the Company during such calendar year; and (iii) a payment equal to the amount of any annual bonus which has been earned in a prior year but which has not yet been paid to the executive (the "Earned but Unpaid Bonus").
For purposes of their employment agreements, "disability" means a "Total Disability" (or equivalent) as defined in the Company's long term disability plan in effect at the time of the disability.
Voluntary Termination or Termination for Cause. If Messrs. Loughmiller, Gottwald, St-Hilaire or Kelly voluntarily terminates his employment or if the Company terminates his employment for Cause, the Company's sole obligation will be to pay him the Accrued Obligations. For purposes of their employment agreements, "Cause" means the (i) executive's willful, continued and uncured failure to perform substantially their duties under the agreement (other than any such failure resulting from incapacity due to medically documented illness or injury) for a period of 14 days following written notice by the Company to the executive of such failure; (ii) executive engaging in illegal conduct or gross misconduct that is demonstrably likely to lead to material injury to the Company, monetarily or otherwise; (iii) executive's indictment or conviction of, or plea of nolo contendere to, a crime constituting a felony or any other crime involving moral turpitude; or (iv) executive's violation of the restrictive covenants under the agreement or any other covenants owed to the Company by executive.
Termination Without Cause or Resignation for Good Reason. In the event Messrs. Loughmiller, Gottwald, St-Hilaire or Kelly is terminated by the Company without Cause or such executive resigns for Good Reason, the executive would be entitled to receive, subject to the execution and non-revocation of a release of claims, (i) a lump sum cash payment equal to the sum of his annual base salary plus target annual bonus for the year in which such termination of employment occurs; (ii) the Continued Benefits; and (iii) the Earned but Unpaid Bonus. For purposes of their employment agreements, "Good Reason" means (i) any material reduction of the executive's authority, duties and responsibilities; (ii) any material failure by the Company to comply with any of the terms and conditions of the agreement; (iii) any failure to timely pay or provide the executive's base salary, or any reduction in the executive's base salary, excluding any base salary reduction made in connection with across the board salary reductions; (iv) the requirement by the Company that the executive relocate his principal business location to a location more than 50 miles from the executive's principal base of operation as of the effective date of the agreement; or (v) a Change of Control occurs and, if applicable, the Company fails to cause its successor (whether by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to assume or reaffirm the Company's obligations under the agreement without change. For purposes of the foregoing, "Change of Control" has the same meaning as the term "Change in Control" under the Omnibus Plan.
Requirements With Respect to Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation. Upon a termination of employment for any reason, Messrs. Loughmiller, Gottwald, St-Hilaire and Kelly are subject to the following one year post-termination restrictive covenants: (i) non-competition restrictions; and (ii) non-solicitation of Company employees and customers.
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The Audit Committee has appointed KPMG LLP ("KPMG") to serve as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for its fiscal year ending December 31, 2017. The Audit Committee and the Board seek to have the stockholders ratify the Audit Committee's appointment of KPMG, which has served as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm since 2006. Although the Company is not required to seek stockholder approval of this appointment, the Board believes it to be sound corporate governance to do so. If the appointment of KPMG is not ratified by the stockholders, the Audit Committee will consider the vote of the Company's stockholders and may appoint another independent registered public accounting firm or may decide to maintain its appointment of KPMG. Ratification of the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm requires the affirmative vote of the majority of shares present in person or represented by proxy at the 2017 annual meeting.
Representatives of KPMG will be present at the 2017 annual meeting and will have the opportunity to make a statement, if they desire to do so, and to respond to appropriate questions.
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The Audit Committee is comprised of four independent directors, each of whom satisfies the independence requirements of Section 10A of the Exchange Act and Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act. The Audit Committee oversees our financial reporting process on behalf of the Board and serves as the primary communication link between the Board as the representative of our stockholders, the independent auditors, KPMG and our internal auditors. Our management has the primary responsibility for financial statements and the reporting process, including the systems of internal controls and for assessing the effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting. The Audit Committee, at least quarterly, meets with the Company's Chief Financial Officer, the Company's Vice President of Internal Audit and representatives of KPMG and conducts separate executive sessions to discuss the audited consolidated financial statements, the evaluations of the Company's internal controls and the overall quality of the Company's financial reporting and compliance programs.
In fulfilling its responsibilities during the fiscal year, the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed with management the consolidated financial statements and related financial statement disclosures included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and the audited consolidated financial statements and related financial statement disclosures included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016. Also, the Audit Committee reviewed with the independent auditors their judgments as to both the quality and the acceptability of our accounting policies. The Audit Committee's review with the independent auditors included a discussion of other matters required under Auditing Standards promulgated by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board ("PCAOB"), including PCAOB Auditing Standard No. 1301, Communications with Audit Committees. The Audit Committee received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent auditors required by the PCAOB Rule Nos. 3524 and 3526 regarding communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence and has discussed those disclosures with the independent auditors. The Audit Committee has also reviewed non-audit services performed by KPMG and considered whether KPMG's provision of non-audit services was compatible with maintaining its independence from the Company.
The Audit Committee discussed with our internal auditors and independent auditors the overall scope and plans for their respective audits and reviewed our plans for compliance with management certification requirements pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The Audit Committee met with the internal auditors and independent auditors, with and without management present, to discuss the results of the auditors' examinations, their evaluations of our internal controls, including a review of the disclosure control process, and the overall quality of our financial reporting. Management represented to the Audit Committee that the Company's consolidated audited financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and the Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited consolidated financial statements with management and the independent auditors. The Audit Committee, or the Chairman of the Audit Committee, also pre-approved all audit and non-audit services provided by the independent auditors during and relating to fiscal year 2016. In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the audited consolidated financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016.
The Audit Committee evaluates the performance of the independent auditors each year and determines whether to re-engage the current independent auditors or consider other audit firms. In doing so, the Audit Committee considers the quality and efficiency of the services provided by the independent auditors, along with the independent auditor's capabilities, technical expertise, and knowledge of our operations and industry. In addition, the Audit Committee reviews with our Chief Financial Officer and our Vice President of Internal Audit, the overall audit scope and plans, the results of internal and external audit examinations, evaluations by management and the independent auditors of our internal controls over financial reporting, the quality of our financial reporting and the ability of the independent auditors to remain independent. Based on these evaluations, the Audit Committee approved the engagement of KPMG as our independent auditors for fiscal year 2017.
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Although the Audit Committee has the sole authority to appoint the independent auditors, the Audit Committee has continued its long-standing practice of recommending that the Board ask our stockholders to ratify the appointment of the independent auditors at our annual meeting of stockholders. This report is submitted by Michael T. Kestner, Donna R. Ecton, J. Mark Howell and Stephen E. Smith, being all current members of the Audit Committee, and Lynn Jolliffe, who was a member of the Audit Committee for a portion of 2016.
Michael T. Kestner (Chairman)
Donna R. Ecton
J. Mark Howell
Lynn Jolliffe
Stephen E. Smith
The following table sets forth the aggregate fees charged to KAR Auction Services by KPMG for audit services rendered in connection with the audit of our consolidated financial statements and reports for 2016 and 2015 and for other services rendered during 2016 and 2015 to KAR Auction Services and its subsidiaries, as well as all out-of-pocket costs incurred in connection with these services:
Fee Category
|
2016 |
2015 |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Audit Fees(1) | | $2,745,568 | | $2,359,561 | |||
Audit-Related Fees(2) | 24,000 | 33,000 | |||||
Tax Fees(3) | | 92,128 | | 248,615 | |||
All Other Fees(4) | 225,847 | 160,432 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
Total Fees | | $3,087,543 | | $2,801,608 | |||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
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KAR Auction Services' independent registered public accounting firm fee pre-approval policy provides for an annual process through which the Audit Committee evaluates the nature and scope of the audit prior to the commencement of the audit. The Audit Committee also evaluates audit-related, tax and other services that are proposed, along with the anticipated cost of such services. The Audit Committee reviews schedules of specific services to be provided. If other services are provided outside of this annual process, under the policy they may be (i) pre-approved by the Audit Committee at a regularly scheduled meeting; or (ii) pre-approved by the Chairman of the Audit Committee, acting between meetings and reporting back to the Audit Committee at the next scheduled meeting. All audit fees, audit-related fees, tax fees and all other fees described above were approved by the Audit Committee or the Chairman of the Audit Committee before such services were rendered.
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Pursuant to our written related party transactions policy, the Company reviews relationships and transactions in which the Company, or one of its business units, and our directors and executive officers or their immediate family members are participants to determine whether such persons have a direct or indirect material interest.
In the course of the review and approval of a related party transaction, the Board or the Audit Committee may consider the following factors:
Transactions in which the amount involved exceeds $120,000 in which the Company, or one of its business units, was a participant and a related person had a direct or indirect material interest are required to be disclosed in this proxy statement. Thomas J. Caruso, currently the Company's Chief Client Officer, has a son, Joseph Caruso, who is currently employed as the Manager of Major Dealer Accounts at ADESA. During 2016, Mr. Joseph Caruso earned approximately $143,000 in total compensation. Joseph Caruso does not report to Thomas J. Caruso.
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63 |
In order to submit stockholder proposals for inclusion in our proxy statement related to the 2018 annual meeting of stockholders pursuant to SEC Rule 14a-8, materials must be received by the Secretary at the Company's principal office in Carmel, Indiana, no later than December 26, 2017.
The proposals must comply with all of the requirements of SEC Rule 14a-8. Proposals should be addressed to: Rebecca C. Polak, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, KAR Auction Services, Inc., 13085 Hamilton Crossing Boulevard, Carmel, Indiana 46032. As the SEC's shareholder proposal rules make clear, simply submitting a proposal does not guarantee its inclusion.
The Company's By-Laws also establish an advance notice procedure with regard to director nominations and stockholder proposals that are not submitted for inclusion in the proxy statement, but that a stockholder instead wishes to present directly at an annual meeting. To be properly brought before the 2018 annual meeting, a notice of the nomination or the matter the stockholder wishes to present at the meeting must be delivered to the Secretary at the Company's principal office in Carmel, Indiana (see above), not less than 90 or more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of this year's annual meeting. As a result, any notice given by or on behalf of a stockholder pursuant to these provisions of the Company's By-Laws (and not pursuant to SEC Rule 14a-8) must be received no earlier than February 5, 2018, and no later than March 7, 2018. All director nominations and stockholder proposals must comply with the requirements of the Company's By-Laws, a copy of which may be obtained at no cost from the Secretary of the Company by writing to KAR Auction Services, Inc., Secretary, 13085 Hamilton Crossing Boulevard, Carmel, Indiana 46032.
Other than the proposals described in this proxy statement, KAR Auction Services does not expect any matters to be presented for a vote at the 2017 annual meeting. If you grant a proxy, the persons named as proxy holders on the proxy card will have the discretion to vote your shares on any additional matters properly presented for a vote at the 2017 annual meeting. If for any unforeseen reason, any one or more of the Board's nominees is not available as a candidate for director, the persons named as proxy holders will vote your proxy for such other candidate or candidates as may be nominated as a substitute by the Board.
The chairman of the meeting may refuse to allow the transaction of any business not presented beforehand, or to acknowledge the nomination of any person not made in compliance with the foregoing procedures.
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Q: | Why am I receiving these materials? | |
A: | We are providing these proxy materials to you in connection with the solicitation, by the Board of KAR Auction Services, of proxies to be voted at the Company's 2017 annual meeting of stockholders and at any adjournments or postponements thereof. Stockholders are invited to attend the 2017 annual meeting to be held on June 5, 2017 beginning at 9:00 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time, at the Renaissance Indianapolis North Hotel, 11925 North Meridian Street, Carmel, Indiana 46032. Our proxy materials are first being distributed to stockholders on or about April 25, 2017. |
Q: | What proposals will be voted on, what is the Board's voting recommendation, and what are the standards for determining whether a proposal has been approved? | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
A: | Proposal |
Voting Choices and Board Recommendation |
Voting Standard |
Effect of Abstention |
Effect of Broker Non-Vote |
|||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
1. | Election of Directors | Vote "FOR" all nominees
Vote "FOR" specific nominees
Vote "AGAINST" all nominees
Vote "AGAINST" specific nominees
Abstain from voting for all nominees
Abstain from voting for specific nominees The Board recommends a vote "FOR" each of the director nominees. |
More votes "FOR" than "AGAINST" | No effect | No effect | |||||||
2. | Advisory Vote to Approve Executive Compensation | Vote "FOR" the advisory proposal
Vote "AGAINST" the advisory proposal
Abstain from voting on the advisory proposal The Board recommends a vote "FOR" the advisory vote to approve executive compensation. |
Majority of the shares present and entitled to vote | Vote against | No effect | |||||||
3. | Advisory Vote to Approve the Frequency of Future Votes to Approve Executive Compensation | Vote FOR holding the say-on-pay vote "EVERY YEAR"
Vote FOR holding the say-on-pay vote "EVERY TWO YEARS"
Vote FOR holding the say-on-pay vote "EVERY THREE YEARS"
Abstain from voting on the advisory proposal The Board recommends a vote FOR holding the vote to approve executive compensation "EVERY YEAR." |
Frequency receiving most votes "FOR" will be the recommendation of stockholders | No effect | No effect | |||||||
4. | Ratification of Appointment of KPMG as our Independent Registered Accounting Firm | Vote "FOR" the ratification
Vote "AGAINST" the ratification
Abstain from voting on the ratification The Board recommends a vote "FOR" the ratification of the appointment of KPMG as our independent registered accounting firm for 2017. |
Majority of the shares present and entitled to vote | Vote against | Not applicable |
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Q: | Who is entitled to vote? | |
A: |
All shares owned by you as of the record date, which is the close of business on April 13, 2017, may be voted by you. You may cast one vote per share of our common stock that you held on the record date. These shares include shares that are: held directly in your name as the stockholder of record; and held for you as the beneficial owner through a broker, bank or other nominee, including shares purchased under the KAR Auction Services, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Employee Stock Purchase Plan"). On the record date, KAR Auction Services had 137,146,721 shares of common stock issued and outstanding. |
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Q: | What is the difference between holding shares as a stockholder of record and as a beneficial owner? | |
A: |
Stockholder of Record. If your shares are registered directly in your name with the Company's transfer agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, you
are considered a "stockholder of record" with respect to those shares. As the stockholder of record, you have the right to grant your voting proxy directly to the Company or to vote in person at the 2017 annual meeting. Beneficial Owner. If your shares are held in a brokerage account or by a bank or other nominee, you hold your shares in "street name" and are considered a "beneficial owner" with respect to those shares. These proxy materials are being forwarded to you by your broker or nominee who is considered the stockholder of record with respect to those shares. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker on how to vote your shares and are also invited to attend the 2017 annual meeting. |
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Q: | How can I vote my shares in person at the 2017 annual meeting? | |
A: |
Stockholder of Record. Shares held directly in your name as the stockholder of record may be voted in person at the 2017 annual meeting. If you choose to vote your shares in
person at the 2017 annual meeting, please bring proof of identification. Beneficial Owner. If you are a beneficial owner and want to vote your shares in person at the 2017 annual meeting, you will need to ask your bank, broker or other nominee to furnish you with a legal proxy and an account statement or letter indicating that you are the beneficial owner of the shares. The account statement or letter must show that you were the beneficial owner of shares on April 13, 2017, the record date. Even if you plan to attend the 2017 annual meeting, the Company strongly recommends that you vote your shares in advance as described below so that your vote will be counted if you later decide not to attend the 2017 annual meeting. See "How can I vote my shares without attending the 2017 annual meeting?" below. |
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Q: | How can I vote my shares without attending the 2017 annual meeting? | |
A: |
Whether you hold your shares directly as the stockholder of record or beneficially in street name, you may vote without attending the 2017 annual meeting in one of the following manners:
By Internet. Go to www.proxyvote.com and follow the instructions. You will need the control number included on your proxy card or voting instruction form; By Telephone. Dial 1-800-690-6903. You will need the control number included on your proxy card or voting instruction form; or By Mail. Complete, date and sign your proxy card or voting instruction card and mail it using the enclosed, pre-paid envelope. If you vote on the internet or by telephone, you do not need to return your proxy card or voting instruction card. Internet and telephone voting for stockholders will be available 24 hours a day, and will close at 11:59 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, on June 4, 2017. |
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Q: | If I am an employee holding shares pursuant to the Employee Stock Purchase Plan, how will my shares be voted? | |
A: | Employees holding stock acquired through the Employee Stock Purchase Plan will receive a voting instruction card covering all shares held in their individual account from Computershare, the plan record keeper. The voting instruction cards have an earlier return date than proxy cards. The record keeper for the Employee Stock Purchase Plan will vote your shares (i) in accordance with the specific instructions on your returned voting instruction card; or (ii) in its discretion, if you return a signed voting instruction card with no specific voting instructions. |
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Q: | What is the quorum requirement for the 2017 annual meeting? | |
A: | A quorum of stockholders is necessary to hold the 2017 annual meeting. A quorum at the 2017 annual meeting exists if the holders of a majority of the Company's capital stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the 2017 annual meeting are present in person or represented by proxy. Abstentions and broker non-votes are counted as present for establishing a quorum. A broker non-vote occurs on an item when a broker, bank or other nominee is not permitted to vote on that item absent instruction from the beneficial owner of the shares and no instruction is given. | |
Q: | What happens if I do not give specific voting instructions? | |
A: |
Stockholder of Record. If you are a stockholder of record and you sign and return a proxy card without giving specific voting instructions, then the proxy holders will vote
your shares in the manner recommended by the Board on all matters presented in this proxy statement and as the proxy holders may determine in their discretion with respect to any other matters properly presented for a vote at the 2017 annual meeting.
Beneficial Owner. If you are a beneficial owner of shares and do not provide the organization (e.g., broker, bank or other nominee) that holds your shares in "street name" with specific voting instructions, the organization that holds your shares may generally vote in its discretion on "routine" matters. If the organization that holds your shares does not receive instructions from you on how to vote your shares on "non-routine" matters, such organization cannot vote your shares and will inform the inspector of election that it does not have the authority to vote on these matters with respect to your shares. This is generally referred to as a "broker non-vote." Therefore, we urge you to give voting instructions to your broker, bank or other nominee. Shares represented by such broker non-votes will be counted in determining whether there is a quorum. Because broker non-votes are not considered shares entitled to vote, they will have no effect on the outcome of any proposal other than reducing the number of shares present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote from which a majority is calculated. Routine Matters. The ratification of the appointment of KPMG as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2017 (Proposal No. 4) is considered a routine matter under applicable rules. A broker, bank or other nominee may generally vote on routine matters, and therefore no broker non-votes are expected to exist in connection with Proposal No. 4. Non-Routine Matters. The election of directors (Proposal No. 1), the advisory vote to approve executive compensation (Proposal No. 2) and the advisory vote to approve the frequency of future votes to approve executive compensation (Proposal No. 3) are considered non-routine matters under applicable rules. A broker, bank or other nominee cannot vote without instructions on non-routine matters, and therefore there may be broker non-votes on Proposal No. 1, Proposal No. 2 and Proposal No. 3. |
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Q: | What does it mean if I receive more than one proxy or voting instruction card? | |
A: | It means your shares are registered differently or are in more than one account. Please provide voting instructions for all proxy and voting instruction cards you receive. | |
Q: | Who will count the vote? | |
A: | The votes will be counted by the inspector of election appointed for the 2017 annual meeting. | |
Q: | Can I revoke my proxy or change my vote? | |
A: |
Yes. You may revoke your proxy or change your voting instructions at any time prior to the vote at the 2017 annual meeting by: providing written notice of revocation to the Secretary of the Company at 13085 Hamilton Crossing Boulevard, Carmel, Indiana 46032; delivering a valid, later-dated proxy or a later-dated vote on the internet or by telephone; or attending the 2017 annual meeting and voting in person. Please note that your attendance at the 2017 annual meeting in person will not cause your previously granted proxy to be revoked unless you vote in person at the 2017 annual meeting. If you wish to revoke your proxy, you must do so in sufficient time to permit the necessary examination and tabulation of the subsequent proxy or revocation before the vote is taken. Shares held in street name may be voted in person by you at the 2017 annual meeting only if you obtain a signed proxy from the record holder giving you the right to vote the shares. |
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Q: | Who will bear the cost of soliciting proxies for the 2017 annual meeting? | |
A: | The Company pays the cost of soliciting your proxy and reimburses brokers and others for forwarding to you the proxy materials as beneficial owners of our common stock. The Company's directors, officers and employees also may solicit proxies by mail, telephone and personal contact. They will not receive any additional compensation for these activities. | |
Q: | Why did I receive a notice in the mail regarding the internet availability of the proxy materials instead of a paper copy of the proxy materials? | |
A: | This year, we are again taking advantage of the SEC rules that allow us to furnish our proxy materials over the internet. As a result, most of our stockholders will be mailed a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials ("Notice"), rather than a full paper set of the proxy materials. The Notice includes information on how to access the proxy materials via the internet as well as how to vote via the internet. We believe this method of delivery will decrease printing and shipping costs, expedite distribution of proxy materials to you, and reduce our impact on the environment. Stockholders who receive the Notice but would like to receive a printed copy of the proxy materials in the mail should follow the instructions in the Notice for requesting such materials. | |
Q: | I share an address with another stockholder, and we received only one paper copy of the proxy materials. How may I obtain an additional copy of the proxy materials? | |
A: |
We have adopted a procedure called "householding," which the SEC has approved. Under this procedure, we may deliver a single copy of the Notice and, if applicable, this proxy statement and the Company's Annual Report to multiple stockholders who
share the same address unless we received contrary instructions from one or more of the stockholders. This procedure reduces our printing and mailing costs and also reduces our impact on the environment. Stockholders who participate in householding
will continue to be able to access and receive separate proxy cards. Upon written or oral request, a separate copy of the Notice or this proxy statement and the Company's Annual Report, as requested, will be promptly delivered to any stockholder at a
shared address to which we delivered a single copy of any of these documents. If you prefer to receive separate copies of the Notice, the proxy statement or Annual Report, contact Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. by calling 1-866-540-7095 or
in writing at 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, New York 11717, Attention: Householding Department. If you are a stockholder of record and are receiving more than one copy of the proxy materials at a single address and would like to participate in householding, please notify us by contacting Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. using the mailing address and phone number above. Stockholders who hold shares in "street name" may contact their broker, bank or other nominee to request information about householding. |
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Q: | How can I obtain a copy of KAR Auction Services' Annual Report on Form 10-K? | |
A: | Copies of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, as filed with the SEC, are available to stockholders free of charge on our website at www.karauctionservices.com or by writing to KAR Auction Services, Inc., Investor Relations, 13085 Hamilton Crossing Boulevard, Carmel, Indiana 46032. | |
Q: | Where can I find the voting results of the 2017 annual meeting? | |
A: | KAR Auction Services will announce preliminary voting results at the 2017 annual meeting and publish preliminary, or final results if available, in a Current Report on Form 8-K within four business days of the 2017 annual meeting. |
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*** Exercise Your Right to Vote *** Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Stockholder Meeting to Be Held on June 5, 2017. KAR AUCTION SERVICES, INC. You are receiving this communication because you hold shares in the company named above. This is not a ballot. You cannot use this notice to vote these shares. This communication presents only an overview of KAR AUCTION SERVICES, INC. 13085 HAMILTON CROSSING BLVD. CARMEL, IN 46032 the more complete proxy materials that are available to you on the Internet. You may view the proxy materials online at www.proxyvote.com or easily request a paper copy (see reverse side). We encourage you to access and review all of the important information contained in the proxy materials before voting. proxy materials and voting instructions. E27313-P85929 See the reverse side of this notice to obtain Meeting Information Meeting Type:Annual Meeting For holders as of:April 13, 2017 Date: June 5, 2017Time: 9:00 AM EDT Location: Renaissance Indianapolis North Hotel 11925 N. Meridian Street Carmel, Indiana 46032
Before You Vote How to Access the Proxy Materials Have the information that is printed in the box marked by the arrow XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX (located on the by the arrow XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX (located on the following page) in the subject line. How To Vote Please Choose One of the Following Voting Methods marked by the arrow XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX (located on the following page) available and follow the instructions. E27314-P85929 Vote In Person: Many stockholder meetings have attendance requirements including, but not limited to, the possession of an attendance ticket issued by the entity holding the meeting. Please check the meeting materials for any special requirements for meeting attendance. At the meeting, you will need to request a ballot to vote these shares. Vote By Internet: To vote now by Internet, go to www.proxyvote.com. Have the information that is printed in the box Vote By Mail: You can vote by mail by requesting a paper copy of the materials, which will include a proxy card. Proxy Materials AAvvaaiillaabbllee ttooVVIEIEWWoorrRREECCEEIVIVEE: : NOTICE AND PROXY STATEMENTFORM 10-K How to View Online: following page) and visit: www.proxyvote .com. How to Request and Receive a PAPER or E-MAIL Copy: If you want to receive a paper or e-mail copy of these documents, you must request one. There is NO charge for requesting a copy. Please choose one of the following methods to make your request: 1) BY INTERNET: www.proxyvote.com 2) BY TELEPHONE: 1-800-579-1639 3) BY E-MAIL*: sendmaterial@proxyvote.com * If requesting materials by e-mail, please send a blank e-mail with the information that is printed in the box marked Requests, instructions and other inquiries sent to this e-mail address will NOT be forwarded to your investment advisor. Please make the request as instructed above on or before May 22, 2017 to facilitate timely delivery.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" ALL NOMINEES, "FOR" PROPOSALS 2 AND 4, AND "1 YEAR" FOR PROPOSAL 3. 1. Election of Directors Nominees: 1a. Todd F. Bourell 2. To approve, on an advisory basis, executive compensation. 1b. Donna R. Ecton 3. To approve, on an advisory basis, the frequency of future votes to approve executive compensation. 1c. James P. Hallett 4. To ratify the Audit Committee's appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for 2017. 1d. Mark E. Hill 1e. J. Mark Howell NOTE: Such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. 1f. Lynn Jolliffe 1g. Michael T. Kestner 1h. John P. Larson 1i. Stephen E. Smith E27315-P85929 Voting Items
E27316-P85929
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. Eastern Time the day before the cut-off date or meeting date. 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. KAR AUCTION SERVICES, INC. 13085 HAMILTON CROSSING BLVD. CARMEL, IN 46032 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. Eastern Time the day before the cut-off date or meeting date. 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: E27303-P85929 KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED. KAR AUCTION SERVICES, INC. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" ALL NOMINEES, "FOR" PROPOSALS 2 AND 4, AND "1 YEAR" FOR PROPOSAL 3. For Against Abstain 1. Election of Directors Nominees: ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 1a. Todd F. Bourell 1b. Donna R. Ecton For Against Abstain ! ! ! 1c. James P. Hallett 2. To approve, on an advisory basis, executive compensation. 1d. Mark E. Hill 1 Year 2 Years 3 Years Abstain 3. To approve, on an advisory basis, the frequency of future votes to approve executive compensation. ! ! ! ! 1e. J. Mark Howell 1f. Lynn Jolliffe For Against Abstain ! ! ! 1g. Michael T. Kestner 4. To ratify the Audit Committee's appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for 2017. 1h. John P. Larson 1i. Stephen E. Smith For address changes and/or comments, please check this box and write them on the back where indicated. ! Yes ! No Please indicate if you plan to attend this meeting. 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 V.1.1
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF KAR AUCTION SERVICES, INC. JUNE 5, 2017 Important Notice Regarding Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting: The Notice and Proxy Statement and Form 10-K are available at www.karauctionservices.com Please sign, date and mail Your proxy card in the envelope provided as soon as possible E27304-P85929 PROXY KAR AUCTION SERVICES, INC. ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS - JUNE 5, 2017 PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS The undersigned hereby appoints Eric M. Loughmiller and Rebecca C. Polak, and each of them, as true and lawful agents and proxies with full power of substitution in each, to attend and represent the undersigned on all matters to come before the Annual Meeting of Stockholders and to vote as designated on the reverse side, all the shares of common stock of KAR Auction Services, Inc., held of record by the undersigned on April 13, 2017, during or at any adjournment or postponement of the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at 9:00 a.m., EDT, at the Renaissance Indianapolis North Hotel, 11925 N. Meridian Street, Carmel, Indiana 46032 on Monday, June 5, 2017. I hereby acknowledge receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and the accompanying Proxy Statement, the terms of which are incorporated by reference, and revoke any proxy previously given by me with respect to such meeting. This proxy will be voted as directed, or if no direction is indicated, the proxy holders will vote the shares represented by this proxy "FOR" each of the nominees listed in Proposal 1, "FOR" Proposals 2 and 4 and "1 YEAR" for Proposal 3, and in the discretion of the proxy holders on any other matter that may properly come before the meeting. (If you noted any Address Changes/Comments above, please mark corresponding box on the reverse side.) (Continued and to be signed on reverse side) V.1.1 Address Changes/Comments: